19. Jerusalem During The First And Second Temple Periods: Recent Excavations And Discoveries On And Near The Temple Mount

Abstract

This Chapter presents the major highlights of recent archaeological discoveries near the Temple Mount during the First and Second Temple periods. Archaeologically and biblically, the most contested period of time relates to the understanding of Jerusalem during the 10th century, specifically during the reigns of David and Solomon. The majority of excavators of the City of David have dated this construction to the 10th BCE. The most recent discoveries on the Temple Mount were recovered during an inspection by the Israel Antiquities Authority of maintenance work by the Waqf on the Temple Mount. Yuval Baruch, the IAA inspector, collected Iron Age II sherds dating to the 8th-6th centuries BCE. The last decade in particular has contributed tremendously to our understanding of biblical Jerusalem. Keywords: archaeological discoveries; first temple period; Iron age II; Jerusalem; second temple period; temple mount