2000-year-old Jewish Village Unearthed in Eastern Jerusalem

 

A picture taken on March 27, 2019 shows weight stones that were part of an ancient olive press at the site of the remains of a Jewish village from the Hasmonean period (approximately 2000-years-old), which are currently being uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP Getty Images

The remains of an ancient Jewish village from the Hasmonean period has been discovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The 2,000-year-old remains were discovered in the Sharafat neighborhood of Jerusalem. An elementary school was meant to be built on the site before this important discovery.

Yaakov Billing an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) shows a large ritual bath (miqveh) at the site of the remains of a Jewish village from the Hasmonean period. Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP Getty Images

The excavation, which was funded by the Moriah Jerusalem corporation, found the remnants of a large wine press that contained fragments of many storage jars, an olive press, a huge columbarium cave (rock-cut dovecote), a ritual bath (or mikveh) of immense proportions, rock quarries, a water reservoir and installations.

The fact that an extravagant burial estate was excavated at this site makes the discovery very significant. During the excavation, it was found that this extravagant estate had a corridor that led to a large courtyard chiseled into the bedrock. The archaeologists noted that the courtyard had an encompassing bench, with the entrance to the burial cave from its facade.

 

Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP Getty Images

They also found that the cave comprised numerous chambers, each with oblong burial niches chiseled into the walls. According to the archaeologists, the cave was sealed as a mark of respect for the buried parties, which was in accordance with the Orthodox restrictions of disturbing burials.

Ya’akov Billig, director of the excavations on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, told Israel National News: “it looked like the burial site served the prominent or wealthy family during the Hasmonean period and that using burial estates was popular among people who lived in that period.”