Israeli archaeologists have unearthed a unique 2,000-year-old stepped structure in the City of David, an ancient neighborhood in Jerusalem, Israel.
IAA archaeologist Dr Joe Uziel sitting atop the stepped structure. Image credit: Shai Halevy / Israel Antiquities Authority.
Made from large ashlar stones, this structure is located next to the Second Temple stepped street that once led pilgrims from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple.
“The street, a section of which was excavated in the past, is remarkably well-preserved and is built of enormous stone slabs,” according to a statement from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
“The street most likely runs above the 2,000-year-old drainage channel, which carried rain water out of the city. It was constructed sometime in the fourth decade of the first century CE, and was one of the largest construction projects undertaken in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period.”
IAA archaeologists Nahshon Szanton and Dr Joe Uziel said that the structure exposed is unique.
“To date such a structure has yet to be found along the street in the numerous excavations that have taken place in Jerusalem and to the best of our knowledge outside of it. For this reason, its exact use remains enigmatic.”
“The structure is built along the street in a place that is clearly visible from afar by passers-by making their way to the Temple.”
“We believe the structure was a kind of monumental podium that attracted the public’s attention when walking on the city’s main street.”
Intriguingly, a bronze coin dating to the time of the Great Revolt against the Romans (66 – 70 CE), dozens of whole pottery vessels, stone vessels and glassware were found near the structure.
British archaeologists Frederick Jones Bliss and Archibald Dickie, who discovered a small portion of this structure about 100 years ago, mistakenly thought these were steps that led into a house that was destroyed. They would certainly be excited if they could come back today and see it completely revealed.
A bronze coin found near the structure. Image credit: Carla Amit / Israel Antiquities Authority.
“We know from rabbinic sources there were stones that were used for public purposes during the Second Temple period,” IAA archaeologists said.
“For example, one source cites the ‘auction block’ in connection with the street: “[a master] will not set up a market stand and put them (slaves) on the auction block (Sifra, BeHar 6).”
In the Mishnah and Talmud the ‘Stone of Claims’ is mentioned as a place that existed in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period: “Our Rabbis taught: There was a Stone of Claims in Jerusalem: whoever lost an article repaired thither, and whoever found an article did likewise. The latter stood and proclaimed, and the former submitted his identification marks and received it back. And in reference to this we learnt: Go forth and see whether the Stone of Claims is covered (Bava Metzia 28:B).”
