And it is here at the eastern Ophel, just 20 meters (66 feet) from the southeast corner of the Temple Mount, that an incredible opportunity for excavation has opened up—an opportunity that those of us at the Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology are excited to take advantage of this summer under the direction of Hebrew University professor Yosef Garfinkel.For archaeology nerds, this article covers Area E and its context in great detail.Why are we so excited for the opening of this new area, and what do we expect from the upcoming excavation? ...
Putting all the facts together, the archaeological opportunity of Area E to yield findings from Jerusalem’s royal quarter of biblical lore is unmatched. Area E is a potential archaeological gold mine—a gem, largely untouched and undisturbed. Yet while the expectation is to find high preservation from the First Temple Period, there are always archaeological surprises along the way, and all periods will be treated with equal archaeological care.
The chance to excavate Area E is not an opportunity that comes along very often. This is a location just inside the fortification line of Jerusalem’s royal quarter, where kings of the Bible once roamed, along with priests and prophets. As we have learned over the past 60 years of on-and-off excavation, the Ophel, the First Temple Period remains further up the hill—near the crest—did not endure the throes of Jerusalem’s cycle of destruction and rebuilding. It is only here, in the very eastern Ophel, that the royal quarter from King Solomon and every king thereafter can be viewed. No wonder Eilat Mazar was excited to excavate there.
For many PaleoJudaica posts on the Hezekiah and Isaiah bullae, start here and follow the links. Posts on some of the other discoveries at the late Prof. Mazar's Ophel exavation are collected here. A more recent Ophel discovery is noted here.
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