ARCHAEOLOGISTS were left on the verge of tears when excavations in the ancient city of Jerusalem exposed the remains of a fortified wall from the biblical First Temple period.
The First Temple period (1200 to 586 BC) describes one of the most thrilling but enigmatic periods in the Holy Land’s history. Although the Bible paints a vivid picture of life in Jerusalem during the time of the First Temple – Solomon’s Temple – very little archaeological evidence has survived of this holy structure. According to the biblical account, the temple was toppled in 586 BC after an army of Babylonians led by King Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem.
Archaeology news: The ancient fortified wall was found in the City of David (Image: Kobi Harati, City of David; Eliyahu Yanai, City of David Archive; Yaniv Berman, IAA)
Archaeologists in the City of David National Park have uncovered a missing fragment of Jerusalem’s eastern wall, which was destroyed by the Babylonian invaders.
The wall’s remains were found near the Temple Mount, the contested centre of spiritual life in Jerusalem.
Measuring just 16ft (5m) across, the wall was one of many discoveries made on the site, including ancient artefacts and ruins of homes.
Most importantly, however, the discovery proves the ancient city of Jerusalem was surrounded by an impressive, fortified wall.
Fragments of the fortifications have been found in the 1960s and 1970s but they were disconnected and ᴀssumed to be part of separate structures.
