New Stone Courses Discovered in the Western Wall Tunnels Reaching the Depths
of the Western Wall; Ancient Theater Discovered as Well
https://youtu.be/z8WisV0kxyw

Excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, with the
participation of volunteers, have uncovered large portions of courses of the
Western Wall that have been hidden for 1,700 years. An ancient Roman
theater-like structure was exposed for the first time.

The dramatic discoveries will be presented to the public for the first time
at the conference titled “New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and
its Environs,” to be held this week in Jerusalem, marking 50 years of
archaeological research since the reunification of the city.


Eight stone courses of the Western Wall that had been buried under an
8-meter layer of earth were recently uncovered in excavations conducted by
the Israel Antiquities Authority in the Western Wall Tunnels in Jerusalem.
These stone courses, completely preserved, are built of massive stones and
are outstanding in the quality of their construction.

Furthermore, after the removal of this layer of soil, the archaeologists
were surprised to discover that it covered the remnants of an extraordinary
theater-like structure from the Roman period confirming historical writings
that describe a theater near the Temple Mount. These exciting findings will
be presented to the public during a conference titled New Studies in the
Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Environs, which will take place at the
Hebrew University. This year’s conference will mark 50 years of archaeology
since the unification of the city.

Video clip in English. Credit: Yaniv Berman, courtesy of the Israel
Antiquities Authority