Posted on 03/21/2016 4:32:56 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Archaeologists in Israel are "astonished and surprised" after finding artifacts dating back to Jesus' time at a local orphanage and military complex in Jerusalem.
The Israel Antiquities Authority said this week that it has found numerous rare and important artifacts, some dating back to the Second Temple period, buried deep beneath the Schneller compound in Jerusalem, which had previously served as a orphanage and later an Israeli army base.
The Schneller compound first served as an orphanage in the 1800's, and then as an occupation area for German soldiers during World Wars I and II. It later became a base for the Israel Defense Forces.
"We were astonished and surprised by the remains we found here," Amit Re'em with the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a statement this week, according to The Blaze.
Re'em added that the discoveries serve as evidence of Jerusalem's rich archaeological history.
"This is the magic of Jerusalem. Everything is layers upon layers in one place," the archaeologist said.
According to Fox News, excavators have made fascinating discoveries at the compound after they were ordered to do a dig before construction on residential housing in the area could begin.
One the most interesting discoveries includes a winery complete with mosaics, storage rooms, and grape presses. Archaeologists have dated the winery back 1,600 years.
A bathhouse was also discovered, complete with an internal heating system, as well as a Jewish settlement dating back to 63 B.C.
The Israel Antiquities Authority said in a statement that at the winery's center, there "is a pit in which a press screw was anchored that aided in extracting the maximum amount of must from the grapes."
"Eight cells were installed around the pressing surface. These were used for storing the grapes, and possibly also for blending the must with other ingredients, thereby producing different flavors of wine," the statement added.
According to the Daily Mail, Re'em added that the bathhouse discovered at the site proves the area was inhabited during the Second Temple Period.
"Near the bathhouse we found a pit - maybe a ritual bath [Mikye] from the Second Temple Period full of ceramic and glass vessels," Re'em said. "Everything is evidence that nearly 2000 years ago the Romans arrived in Jerusalem and after the destruction of the city in 70AD, the soldiers occupied this house and we find archaeological evidence from this period."
Alex Wiegmann, the excavation director overseeing the Schneller compound dig, said in a statement that "Once again, Jerusalem demonstrates that wherever one turns over a stone, ancient artifacts will be found related to the city's glorious past."
"The archaeological finds discovered here help paint a living, vibrant and dynamic picture of Jerusalem as it was in ancient times up until the modern era," Wiegmann added.
Jerusalem has long been a rich source for archaeological history. Earlier this month, the Israel Antiquities Authority confirmed that it had excavated a 7,000-year-old settlement in Jerusalem dating back to the Copper Age.
Along with discovering two houses at this site, archaeologists also discovered tools for harvesting grain, as well as red beads likely used for trade or jewelry.
I don’t get this “occupation area for German soldiers during World Wars I and II”. Is there any record of Germans (other than Jewish settlers) in Palestine during either war?
SunkenCiv -- *PING*
Copper age?
Germans and the Ottoman rulers of Palestine were allies in WW1. There was a German diplomatic, technical and military advisor presence there.
In WW2 there was a similar German presence (at least until ‘42), but I had always understood it to be much smaller than in WW1.
I’ve never seen any precise details though.
At the time of WW I, Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire. The Germans and the Ottomans were allies and the Germans provided many advisors to the Ottoman forces in the area.
Actually, there were some serious battles in the area. See also Lawrence of Arabia.
So far as WW II is concerned, I believe the German presence might be explained as POW camps.
Apparently the Germans and Ottomans had a lot to do with each other and had German troops in Jersualem.
During WWII Muslim Palestinians held Nazi sympathies but:
WWII saw a brief period of close British-Jewish military cooperation mainly due to Churchill who was a Zionist sympathizer. Around 20-25,000 Jews illegally migrated to Palestine in a period of five years from 1940 to 1945. By December 1945, Jewish population increased to 31% while their registered landownership rose to 6.0% of area of country. It is noteworthy here that much of this illegal immigration was carried out by three Jewish military organizations, Haganah, IZL, and Stern Gang who played a significant role in ensuring Jewish control on Palestine during a
The Krauts didn’t occupy Jerusalem during the Second World War. I’d have to research to see if there were any German troops there during the period of the First World War when the area was controlled by the Ottomans. In any event, history isn’t the writer’s strong point.
Here we go for World War I Combat forces:
Infantry Battalion 701
Infantry support gun sections 701, 702, 703
Machine gun company 701
Asia Korps Cavalry squadron
Pioneer detachment 701
Pioneer company 205 (from the Hessian 11th Pioneer Battalion)
Flying detachment (Fliegerabteilung) 300 (”Pasha”)
Mountain Signal detachment 27
Survey section 27
Medical section
If you are suggesting that the Brits would have allowed German troops in the Palestine Mandate between 1939 and 1942 (”In WW2 there was a similar German presence (at least until ‘42)”), I’ll call. Show your cards.
While the Vichy French allowed Germans access to bases in Syria, the British certainly didn’t allow them access to the Mandate.
In the Spring of 1941, air battles began between the French and Germans on one side, and the British (and Colonial) troops on the other. In June, 1941, British forces moved against the French in Lebanon and Syria from Palestine and Iraq. Damascus quickly fell; it took until mid-July to take Beruit.
Thus, by summer, 1941, not only the Germans, but the French as well had been cleared from the Middle East. (The British did allow their ‘Free French’ puppets to assume nominal control).
The Schneller orphanage compound has its own history was probably a center for German spies.
I’m not familiar withe the exact dates, but the British expelled the Germans as the war heated up.
Well that may explain why it so good. Aged 2000 years.
Dang, how old are those orphans, anyway? ;') Thanks gw, will ping later.
Thanks grey_whiskers.
An ancient rural estate comprising a manor house, large wine press (pictured), Roman bathhouse and Jewish Mikye, or ritual bath, has been unearthed in Jerusalem beneath a famous orphanage.
Some bricks are stamped with the name of the Tenth Roman Legion (pictured), suggesting soldiers were garrisoned there, having played a role in the conquest of Jewish Jerusalem in 70AD
The archaeologists also uncovered the foundations of a bathhouse, including terracotta pipes (pictured above) used to heat the building. This technology was widely used in Roman bathhouses
Germans in WWI. They were with the Ottoman Turks.
Don’t leave us hanging with an incomplete post.
I don’t know what happened there. I just finished up the statement with a reference to the battles of the Zionists for Jerusalem. I didn’t find a reference there to German troops. It wasn’t a comprehensive statement that they weren’t there, just that in the materials I’d read, they weren’t mentioned to my memory.
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