1500 Year Old Ancient Street Discovered in Old City of Jerusalem
Flagstones from a 1,500-year-old street were discovered this month during an excavation in the Old City of Jerusalem. The ancient street follows the same course as the present-day David Street in the Old City and provides evidence supporting the Madaba Map–a 1,400-year-old mosaic map which depicted the Land of Israel in the Byzantine period and the entrance to Jerusalem from the west that led to a single, central thoroughfare on that side of the city. The mosaic is believed to be from the largest bustling street during the Christian rule of Jerusalem.
“We discovered the flagstones, more than a meter long, paved the road at a depth of about 14 feet below street level,” says Dr. Ofer Sion, Excavation Director, Israel Antiquities Authority. “It is wonderful to see that David Street, which is teeming with so much life today, actually preserved the route of the noisy street from 1,500 years ago.”
An abundance of pottery vessels, coins and five small square bronze weights were also discovered during the excavations.
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February 19, 2010
Posted in: Israel