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Monday, August 31, 2015
Israel Antiquities Authority: Has a 2,000 Year Old Podium Been Found in the City of David?

Press Release - Israel Antiquities Authority
Monday, August 31, 2015

Has a 2,000 Year Old Podium Been Found in the City of David?

A unique stepped structure exposed on the street ascending from the Siloam
Pool to the Temple Mount raises questions among researchers at the Israel
Antiquities Authority

An intriguing find consisting of an impressive pyramid-shaped staircase
constructed of large ashlar stones was uncovered in an archaeological
excavation currently conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority. The
excavation is located in the Jerusalem Walls National Park in the City of
David, site of ancient Jerusalem, and is being carried out in cooperation
with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the City of David Foundation.

This structure, situated alongside the 2,000 year old Second Temple stepped
street, which carried pilgrims on their way from the Shiloah (Siloam) Pool
to the Temple, which stood atop the Temple Mount. The street, a section of
which was excavated in the past, is remarkably well-preserved and is built
of enormous stone slabs. The street most likely runs above the 2,000 year
old drainage channel, discovered a number of years ago, 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. Dozens of whole
pottery vessels, stone vessels and glassware were found at the foot of the
pyramid-shaped staircase.

According to archaeologists Nahshon Szanton and Dr. Joe Uziel, who direct of
the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The structure
exposed is unique. To date such a structure has yet to be found along the
stepped 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. It
would be very interesting to know what was said there 2,000 years ago. Were
messages announced here on behalf of the government? Perhaps news or gossip,
or admonitions and street preaching – unfortunately we do not know. Bliss
and Dickie, two British archaeologists 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”.

We know from rabbinic sources there were “stones” that were used for public
purposes during the Second Temple period. 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).

On Thursday (3.9), at the City of David Studies of Ancient Jerusalem’s 16th
Annual Conference that will be open to the public, Nahshon Szanton and Dr.
Joe Uziel will present their findings from the excavation and the different
interpretations regarding the nature of the podium. According to them,
“Given the lack of a clear archaeological parallel to the stepped-structure,
the purpose of the staircase remains a mystery. It is certainly possible the
rabbinical sources provide valuable information about structures, such as
this, although for the time being there is no definitive proof.”

Information about the conference can be found on the City of David website:
www.cityofdavid.org.il.

Click here for photos:
http://bit.ly/1JHueLJ

1. Dr. Joe Uziel, codirector of the excavation from the Israel Antiquities
Authority, sitting atop the stepped structure from the Second Temple period.
Photo: Shai Halevy; courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

2. The stepped structure from the Second Temple period. Photo: Shai Halevy;
courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority

3-4. Coin from the period of the Great Revolt against the Romans, discovered
in the destruction layer atop the street from the Second Temple period.
Photo: Carla Amit, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

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