Page 42 - Holyland Magazine - 2017 Edition

The Jewish Quarter
of the Old City of Jerusalem
Discovering the real history behind the archaeology
Dr. Eyal Meiron
Fifty years of reconstruction in
the Jewish Quarter
This year, 2017, is an exciting milestone in
the history of the Jewish Quarter, marking
fifty fifty years of reconstruction since the Broad Wall dating back to the First Temple
commencement of reconstruction following
the Six-Day War in 1967. The Jewish Quarter
suffered heavy damage during the War of
Independence (1948) and neglect during
the subsequent 19 years of Jordanian rule
(1948-1967). Over the past five decades,
the Company for the Reconstruction and
42
Development of the Jewish Quarter has
undertaken its rehabilitation. The excavations
accompanying the revival of the Jewish
Quarter, all meticulously documented, have
revealed archaeological gems, including the
Period; a residential quarter inhabited by the
city’s wealthy elite (probably kohanim – priests) offers surprising discoveries and new tourist
from the late Second Temple Period; the Burnt
House (see below); the Byzantine Cardo and
Nea Church, and more. All these features have
been preserved for future generations, and,
Archaeological Park - Davidson
Center. Photo: Company for the
Reconstruction and Development
of the Jewish Quarter
where safety regulations permit it, the sites
have been opened to the general public.
Exploration of the Jewish Quarter did not
end with the archaeology and ensuring
accessibility. Even today, vibrant and
teeming with visitors, the Jewish Quarter
projects. Here we will focus on just three: the
first sheds new and unexpected light on old
archaeological relics; the second is a new
and exciting archaeological discovery that