Neither is it a church of antiquity.
It is the excavation site of an ancient quarry in Jerusalem which archaeologists have uncovered and believe King Herod extracted stones for the construction of the Jewish Temple 2,000 years ago.
Picture credit: Assaf Peretz
NBC reports:
...archaeologists believe the 1,000-square-foot (100-square-meter) quarry was part of a much larger network of quarries used by Herod...the size of the stones [three yards (meters) long, two yards (meters) across, and two yards (meters) high] indicates they could have been used in the construction of the Temple compound...
The two-week excavation, which was conducted before construction begins on an apartment complex at the site, also uncovered pottery, coins and what appear to be tools used in the quarry dating to the first century B.C.
"Finding a large quarry related to the largest building project ever undertaken in Jerusalem ... that's more than just another discovery," said archaeologist Aren Maeir of Bar-Ilan University, who was not involved in the excavation. "It's an additional block that slowly reveals the picture of construction in ancient Jerusalem.
INN adds:
...[an] estimated 10,000 laborers produced the stones by creating detachment channels with the use of a one-pound chisel. “After the channels were formed, the stones were severed from the bedrock using hammers and chisels...
Historical rights are based on historical truths which represent the reality that was and assures the Jews their future rights in and to this Land.
We just have to keep digging.
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1 comment:
As amazing as the site itself is the cutting and finishing of the stones so that they fit together perfectly without any mortar. They were held together by the weight and placement... and stayed that way for more than 2000 years! And we think we are so smart...
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