Fascinating. Of course the author means 'the origins of Herod's temple Mount'. The Temple Mount goes way way back to at least the time of Abraham.
Captain Charles Wilson did a survey of Jerusalem in 1886. The arch bearing his name indicates that it was an elevated causeway with many shops underneath - a main approach to the Temple Mount.
I am not familiar with this EurekAlert source; the graphic leaves many questions unanswered. I wish I had the time. sigh
