During the pandemic a major effort that included salvage excavations transformed the southern Armenian Garden from a mound of dirt into a large paved parking lot. Here is what changed.
Another great read Chandler. I really appreciate your careful and clear writing style with the detailed points of orientation. The depth of information you provide is always objective and enlightening, but presented in such that a novice like me can understand. The “before and after” photos are extremely helpful. I enjoyed learning about this in your class and your article has helped me greatly. As you said, I wish the team could have gone deeper.
I have visited Jerusalem a few times and always wondered about this area. I never did get back to researching it. Sad to see it change, but appreciate the info and especially the photos. A real blessing. Thanks.
Chandler: So is the mosaic floor unearthed by the excavation now paved over?? Joel Kramer has a video on his Youtube channel that shows the mosaic uncovered. I was hoping they would leave the mosaic uncovered instead of paved over. Thanks for the content.
Dan, thanks both for your comment and for taking the time to read this post. I just looked up the video you mentioned and saw the mosaic. I heard second hand that at least one mosaic was removed from this excavation, and perhaps it was this one. The excavation area that Joel encountered in the video was only the eastern section. There was also a larger area further west that was uncovered before he arrived (I described it above and showed a photo). As for the dating of this mosaic, my hunch is that it is Byzantine or later, but we await publication.
Wow, that is quite a difference. Although it looked like they really needed parking, it seems that they would have been more interested in what was found there instead of where they might park their cars. It was a nice view before and appeared to be fairly elevated on a hill. I would describe the City of David as being on a hill, as it was the same hill that Abraham took Isaac. I'm curious as to what the round studs in the wall are for or could have supported. I was reading earlier today about Herod placing a gold eagle on one of the gate entrances and wondered if that could have been how or where it was secured. I'd love to see that mosaic. Such a shame more attention wasn't given to the site. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for reading, Ronnette. Your comments get at the issue of Jerusalem being both a city with remains of its ancient past and a living city that also needs to develop. In this case, it seems like the IAA did a typical salvage excavation that takes place in areas like this prior to new development. I don't know what their financial or time constraints were in this case, but we may find out when it is published.
That's great that there is a way to see what the report says. I'm curious to know if you have access to or know where the training for the Levite priesthood, altar for sacrifice, and choosing of a High Priest is taking place there for preparations for future events in expectation of rebuilding the Temple or when tempers settle enough for them to resume? I found an article from 2016 that discussed this and it must have caused quite an uproar in the Christian community that they retracted part of what was said as a joyous occasion. lol https://www.israel365news.com/310069/sanhedrin-appoints-high-priest-preparation-third-temple/
Hi, thanks for reading. I was not affiliated with this dig and am not involved with its publication. For various reasons, these things can take years or sometimes more than a decade to be published, but it could be sooner. I still have not see anything on it yet. Hold tight.
Another great read Chandler. I really appreciate your careful and clear writing style with the detailed points of orientation. The depth of information you provide is always objective and enlightening, but presented in such that a novice like me can understand. The “before and after” photos are extremely helpful. I enjoyed learning about this in your class and your article has helped me greatly. As you said, I wish the team could have gone deeper.
Thanks for reading, John-I'm glad you found it helpful.
I have visited Jerusalem a few times and always wondered about this area. I never did get back to researching it. Sad to see it change, but appreciate the info and especially the photos. A real blessing. Thanks.
Thanks for reading and interacting Sean. I'm glad to hear this was helpful to you. All best.
Chandler: So is the mosaic floor unearthed by the excavation now paved over?? Joel Kramer has a video on his Youtube channel that shows the mosaic uncovered. I was hoping they would leave the mosaic uncovered instead of paved over. Thanks for the content.
Dan, thanks both for your comment and for taking the time to read this post. I just looked up the video you mentioned and saw the mosaic. I heard second hand that at least one mosaic was removed from this excavation, and perhaps it was this one. The excavation area that Joel encountered in the video was only the eastern section. There was also a larger area further west that was uncovered before he arrived (I described it above and showed a photo). As for the dating of this mosaic, my hunch is that it is Byzantine or later, but we await publication.
Excellent reporting. I look forward to reading your update once information becomes available.
Wow, that is quite a difference. Although it looked like they really needed parking, it seems that they would have been more interested in what was found there instead of where they might park their cars. It was a nice view before and appeared to be fairly elevated on a hill. I would describe the City of David as being on a hill, as it was the same hill that Abraham took Isaac. I'm curious as to what the round studs in the wall are for or could have supported. I was reading earlier today about Herod placing a gold eagle on one of the gate entrances and wondered if that could have been how or where it was secured. I'd love to see that mosaic. Such a shame more attention wasn't given to the site. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for reading, Ronnette. Your comments get at the issue of Jerusalem being both a city with remains of its ancient past and a living city that also needs to develop. In this case, it seems like the IAA did a typical salvage excavation that takes place in areas like this prior to new development. I don't know what their financial or time constraints were in this case, but we may find out when it is published.
That's great that there is a way to see what the report says. I'm curious to know if you have access to or know where the training for the Levite priesthood, altar for sacrifice, and choosing of a High Priest is taking place there for preparations for future events in expectation of rebuilding the Temple or when tempers settle enough for them to resume? I found an article from 2016 that discussed this and it must have caused quite an uproar in the Christian community that they retracted part of what was said as a joyous occasion. lol https://www.israel365news.com/310069/sanhedrin-appoints-high-priest-preparation-third-temple/
Do you have a rough estimate as to when the IAA report will be published based on your experience with these things?
Hi, thanks for reading. I was not affiliated with this dig and am not involved with its publication. For various reasons, these things can take years or sometimes more than a decade to be published, but it could be sooner. I still have not see anything on it yet. Hold tight.