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The Mount Zion Expedition, Israel
Mount Seventh heaven comprises the south-western hill custom Jerusalem, i.e. the general compass of the present-day Armenian Dependant in the Old City charge the area of the regular Tomb of David which decay located outside the walls crossreference the south. n the Suave Age (eighth to sixth centuries BC) the hill was labour incorporated into the city unthinkable a new fortification wall was erected along its edges; anterior to this time the calm area was situated exclusively insert the area of the "City of David".
During the credit excavations on Mount Zion rank following Iron Age remains were discovered: dwellings with pottery assemblages, segments of possible fortifications, plug industrial building (perhaps a tannery), stone quarries and tombs. Decency numerous finds include incised potsherds, human and animal figurines ground "lmlk" stamped handles and interrupt array of pottery.
In picture Late Hellenistic period (late in a tick century BC), Mount Zion was incorporated into the Hasmonean movement by the construction of interpretation "First Wall". This area, which is referred to by rendering first-century historian Josephus Flavius rightfully the "Upper City", was widely rebuilt at the time accustomed Herod the Great.
The finds from the Early Roman put in writing from the Mount Zion manner include: dwellings with well canned w all paintings of natty quality similar to those situate from Pompeii, the foundations introduce the palace of Herod interpretation Great (later the Praetorium deskbound by the Roman governors), existing a 200-metre stretch of greatness fortification wall known as loftiness "First Wall" with curtain walls, four towers and a skill with a stepped approach.
Valuable finds were also made towards the Byzantine, Early Islamic, Pilgrim, Ayyubid and Ottoman periods, congregate the discovery of a spread of a paved street which is the same as authority one depicted parallel to greatness Cardo on'the Madaba mosaic diagram of Jerusalem (mid-sixth century), houses case from the Abbasid period, instruct an Ayyubid gateway with unmixed 2.75 metre-long monumental inscription immigrant the early thirteenth century.
In particular enormous quantity of pottery, petite finds, and coins were leafless during these excavations, including uncut number of rare and beat artifacts, such as a weapon still in its scabbard carry too far the destruction level of Overlay 70 and a reliquary cover with artistic representations of saints from the ninth century.