Israeli excavators shortlisted for Khaled al-Asaad award

RECOGNITION: Israeli archeologists could win prestigious award over 2nd Temple-era find. A dig in the Western Wall Tunnels in Jerusalem reveals a hidden underground complex that experts say was used by the Jews to prepare for religious services during the Second Temple period (Israel HaYom).

Israel is among the five candidate countries for the prestigious annual International Archaeological Discovery Award "Khaled al-Asaad" for an excavation conducted in the Western Wall Tunnels in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Tuesday.

A dig headed by Israeli archeologists Barak Monnickendam-Givon and Tehila Sadiel discovered a hidden underground complex that experts think was used by the Jews to prepare for religious services during the Second Temple period before it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

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I noted the discovery of this underground complex here and here last year. For more on the Western Wall Tunnels excavations, see here and follow the links.

This is the first I remember hearing of the Khaled al-Asaad award. It is named after the antiquities chief of Palmyra, who was murdered by ISIS in 2015. Background here and links.

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