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The excavations on Mt. Zion. (IAA)
Last update - 22:05 03/09/2008
Wall of Second Temple-era Jerusalem found in Mt. Zion excavations
By Reuters
Tags: Israel Antiquities Authority 

Archaeologists on Wednesday unveiled a 2,100-year-old Jerusalem perimeter wall - along with beer bottles left behind by 19th century researchers who first discovered the stone defenses.

The wall, on Mount Zion at the southern edge of Jerusalem's Old City, dates back to the Second Jewish Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E.

Yehiel Zelinger, who headed the excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority, said the location of the wall indicated that Jerusalem had expanded to the south at the time, reaching its largest size in biblical times.
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The 10.5-foot high wall was not supported by any mortar or other bonding material and formed part of a 3.5-mile-long fortification around the city, he said.

The present wall around Jerusalem's Old City is 2.5 miles in circumference.

The ancient wall on Mount Zion had disappeared from view by the time a similar stone barrier, also uncovered in the dig, was built at the site during the Byzantine period more than 250 years later. Nonetheless, the second wall followed almost exactly the same path.

"During these two periods, Jerusalem was the center... to the Jews during the Second Temple Period and to pilgrims from the Christian world [during the Byzantine Period]," Zelinger said.

British archaeologists surveyed the site in the 19th century, leaving behind a shoe and and beer and wine bottles, which Zelinger's team found and put on display Wednesday.

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      1.   Second Temple`s southern wall can be...... 17:24  |  Nora 03/09/08
      2.   One step closer to 3rd temple 19:25  |  Gregor 03/09/08
      3.   While legit excavations like these are of historic value and are 19:46  |  lakshmi 03/09/08
      4.   G-d will restore His house 19:50  |  Nephtaly 03/09/08
      5.   This article should include a map 20:33  |  Steve 03/09/08
      6.   A cry of anger from Heaven: 20:43  |  Akram Zekaria 03/09/08
      7.   THE TEMPLE, THE ARK, AND THE KORAN 21:04  |  Barry S Roffman 03/09/08
      8.   1# Nora : The first of the `deniers` are Olmert & Kadima. 21:08  |  Akram Zekaria 03/09/08
      9.   lakshmi - As long as it is done with safety measures 21:23  |  David Israel 03/09/08
      10.   our temple 21:37  |  bobby 03/09/08
      11.   Little be little the G-dless will learn of Torah`s truth 21:55  |  nuchem 03/09/08
      12.   #3 Lakshmi there will be the coming of the new Temple soon 22:02  |  Big Sur 03/09/08
      13.   aMEIN NEPHTALY #4 22:05  |  Big Sur 03/09/08
      14.   Lakshmi: "The reports are that sharon walked around" 22:25  |  Freethinker 03/09/08
      15.   Sometimes religous, mostly political 00:42  |  R`faelMoshe 04/09/08
      16.   THEY FOUND A WALL! 04:11  |  Fritz 04/09/08
      17.   #1 everyone knows the second temple existed 05:45  |  johnj 04/09/08
      18.   #17,johnj, did you read what you just wrote?? 11:15  |  nina 04/09/08
      19.   9 David israel, Freethinker,zionists: David israel, last year 20:57  |  lakshmi 04/09/08
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