“These finds tell the story of the last battle between the Roman forces and the Jewish rebels who had barricaded themselves in the city, a battle that resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem.”
To mark Jerusalem’s jubilee celebration commemorating the Six Day War, the Israel Antiquities Authority on Thursday unveiled rare relics from the 2,000-year-old battle for the capital that took place on the eve of the destruction of the Second Temple.
Findings, including well-preserved arrowheads and stone ballista balls, were discovered on the main street that ascended from the city’s gates and the Pool of Siloam to the Temple, which was excavated in recent years.
“These finds tell the story of the last battle between the Roman forces and the Jewish rebels who had barricaded themselves in the city — a battle that resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem,” the IAA said.
“These finds tell the story of the last battle between the Roman forces and the Jewish rebels who had barricaded themselves in the city, a battle that resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem.”
The City of David dig was funded by Elad, and overseen by the IAA and Nature and Parks Authority.
“These finds tell the story of the last battle between the Roman forces and the Jewish rebels who had barricaded themselves in the city — a battle that resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem,” the IAA said.
“This battle is described by the historian Flavius Josephus: ‘On the following day the Romans, having routed the brigands from the town, set the whole on fire as far as Siloam (Josephus, Wars, Book 6:363).’”
According to Nahshon Szanton and Moran Hagbi, directors of the excavation on behalf of the Authority, the ballista balls were fired by catapults used to bombard Jerusalem during the Roman siege of the city.
The arrowheads, they said, were used by the Jewish rebels in the hard-fought battles against the Roman legionnaires.
Additionally, a section of a road 100 meters long and 7.5 meters wide, paved with large stone slabs, as was customary in construction throughout the Roman Empire, has been exposed in the excavations.
The archeologists said advanced research methods reinforced the understanding that Herod the Great was not solely responsible for the large construction projects of Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period.
“Recent research indicates that the street was built after Herod’s reign, under the auspices of the Roman procurators of Jerusalem, and perhaps even during the tenure of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who is also known for having sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion,” said Szanton.
“This conclusion sheds new light on the history of Jerusalem in the late Second Temple period, and reinforces recognition of the importance of the Roman procurators’ rule in shaping the character of Jerusalem.”
Dr. Yuval Baruch, the IAA’s Jerusalem region archaeologist, said the researchers intend to uncover the entire length and width of the street within five years to complete the excavation of the site, which was first discovered a century ago.
“This unique site had already drawn the attention of archaeologists from around the world about 100 years ago,” said Baruch.
“In fact, one can consider the current excavations in the City of David a natural continuation of the previous archaeological excavations of the site, which were begun in the past by European and American scholars.”
He added: “About four years ago, archeological excavations were renewed along the street, this time in order to expose its full length and width. When the excavations are completed, the remains of the street will be conserved and developed and made ready to receive the tens of thousands of visitors who will walk along it.”
Noting the historical importance of the site and finds, IAA scientists utilized cutting-edge research methods from the fields of natural science, biology and geology in their excavations.
“A combination of these advanced techniques makes the excavation of the stepped-street in the City of David exceptional in its scientific quality and importance in the development of archaeological research in Jerusalem, and Israel in general,” said Szanton.
“And they enable researchers to address questions that have not yet been studied.”
Hagbi said the current excavations also focus on exposing the area adjacent to the street, as well as the shops that were alongside it.
“Finds revealed in the excavations will allow researchers to answer such intriguing questions as: What did the main street that led to the Temple look like? What was the urban nature of the Lower City that extended on either side of the magnificent road? What did they eat in Jerusalem during the difficult siege, etc.?” he said.
“In order to answer these questions, a multidisciplinary study is being conducted, as well as careful wet sifting at the sifting site in the Zurim Valley National Park, where even the smallest finds are collected.”
Hagbi continued: “It seems that it will not be long before it will be possible for the first time to walk along one of the main streets of ancient Jerusalem, to see how it looked, and receive answers to fascinating historical questions.
“Questions that have been asked for 100 years relating to the history of Jerusalem from the time of the Second Temple, at the height of its splendor, and from the moments of its destruction.”
About The Author
