A quarry from the time of the Second Temple, along with various tools and a 2,000-year-old key, were uncovered in Jerusalem. CREDIT: Skyview Company, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority
Posted on 06/19/2013 8:14:59 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The first-century quarry, which fits into the Second Temple Period (538 B.C. to A.D. 70), would've held the huge stones used in the construction of the city's ancient buildings, the researchers noted.
Archaeologists also uncovered pick axes and wedges among other artifacts at the site in the modern-day Ramat Shlomo Quarter, a neighborhood in northern East Jerusalem...
In total, the team uncovered an area of around 11,000 square feet (1,000 square meters) where the ancient quarry would've existed. The quarry connects with other previously identified quarries, all of which seem to be situated in Jerusalem's so-called "city of quarries" dating to the Second Temple period.
In a dig reported in 2007 and completed before the construction of an elementary school in the Ramat Shlomo Quarter, IAA scientists had uncovered another Second Temple quarry. The stones from this quarry, some of which reached 26 feet (8 m) in length, would have been used by King Herod for his Temple at the Temple Mount and other monumental buildings, according to the IAA and news reports...
As for what made this area in Jerusalem such a draw for rocks, the researchers suggest the Meleke rock formation there may be part of the reason. Meleke rock, they say, is easily quarried and hardens immediately after being cut and shaped (or hewn). Also, this area would've been elevated above the city of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period, possibly making transport of the enormous stones easier since the trek would've been downhill.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
A quarry from the time of the Second Temple, along with various tools and a 2,000-year-old key, were uncovered in Jerusalem. CREDIT: Skyview Company, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority
A Large Stone Quarry used to build Temple walls Exposed in Excavations
IMRA | 7-6-09
Posted on 07/06/2009 5:36:12 AM PDT by SJackson
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2286417/posts
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I don’t think I’ve heard of Mekele rock before. Interesting.
That’s because it’s called “meleke”. :)
NFP
Me either. :’)
Good thing there’s no proof the Jews were there wayy back when..*snorts*
I knew I should have just gone to bed.
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