Welcome to the 2024 Ophel excavation—a joint project of the Institute of Archaeology of Hebrew University and the Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology.
This season we will once again be blogging our experience. This page will provide up-to-date information, photos and videos of the 2024 Ophel excavation. Check back often as we follow what we hope to be one of our most exciting excavations to date! The most recent post will be at the top.
Situated adjacent south of the Temple Mount, beside the busy Ophel Road, with stunning views of the Mount of Olives, the Kidron Valley and the City of David, the Ophel dig is one of the most exciting and important archaeological sites in Israel. On August 25, Hebrew University archaeologists Prof. Uzi Leibner and Dr. Orit Peleg-Barkat, together with Armstrong Institute staff and 12 Herbert W. Armstrong College (AC) students and alumni as well as other workers, began the initial phase of the 2024 Ophel excavation by removing modern reconstruction walls in the area. Full-scale excavation will begin on September 1, adding more volunteers and archaeological students from Hebrew University.
Much like the previous phases (2022 and 2023), the 2024 season will focus primarily on revealing Second Temple Period structures and material. This year, there are two areas of concentration—Area D and Area D1; the latter of which will be significantly expanded. We plan to continue removing Byzantine domestic structures, shedding more light on an impressive monumental building from the Early Roman Period that functioned during the days of the Second Temple. Several impressive ritual baths (mikvaot) have already been discovered in relation to this building, as well as a complex drainage system and an even earlier ritual purification structure, in use prior to the construction of the main Early Roman Period building. Our excavation will continue to reveal these features, as well as several phases of later Byzantine occupation that will be excavated along the way.
SEPTEMBER 11: RETURNING TO THE TEMPLE MOUNT EXCAVATIONS
Ophel Excavation volunteers spent a couple hours at the start of the day cleaning overgrowth from the site of Prof. Benjamin Mazar’s excavations in preparation for publication pictures. It was a unique opportunity to be where Ambassador College students excavated in the 1970s. After first break, everyone returned to areas D and D1 to continue digging.
Another productive week wrapped up with both areas D and D1 progressing through several earlier phases of Byzantine construction. Several important small finds were uncovered, including items of religious significance (crucifixes, pilgrimage objects, foundation deposits, etc). Next week we continue our attempt to find the continuation of Second Temple Period remains.
Under the supervision of Amir Cohen-Klonymous, area D is constantly changing as volunteers continue to bring down walls and take probes deeper—eventually hitting bedrock.
Every day, the dig site is busy with various activities: detailed locus cleaning, metal detecting, bucket hauling, etc. With over 50 workers on the site, a lot is accomplished in a day as each person has their part to play.
This week, the Ophel Excavation team was joined by volunteers from Hebrew University and various parts of the globe. The new volunteers were distributed among areas D and D1, and helped man the pottery washing and sifting station.
Workers in area D1 continued dismantling walls, while area D needed its shade repaired. Area D1 had to have a big week: Sunday evening, September 1, all the baalot (large sacks) from D1 were going to be removed via crane and dump truck. Volunteers had to get as many bags filled as possible.
Within the first 30 minutes of dismantling walls and preparing the site, two discoveries were made. Area supervisor Christopher Eames discovered a Herodian-period cornice in the very spot he was preparing for his desk, and logistics manager Yedediah discovered a Byzantine-period coin while walking around the site.
In the below video, Professor Leibner explains the cornice piece.
AUGUST 25: SITE PREPARATION BEGINS
As the crew prepared to make their way to the dig site, news broke of a planned Hezbollah attack with thousands of missiles headed for Israel. The attack was planned for 5 a.m. Israel took preemptive action. However, Ophel excavation director Prof. Uzi Leibner discussed protocol with the AC student volunteers and Hebrew University students in the event of an attack; he also explained general safety requirements for the excavation season. Staff photographer Aubrey Mercado took general photos of the site in preparation for walls to be removed.
Longtime Ophel excavation architect Marcos Edelcopp was onsite to draw the walls of Areas D and D1. Every wall that is removed is thoroughly photographed and drawn by the architect in order to re-create a plan of the area for each occupation level.
Cleaning up the site yields great results. While we only have before-and-after pictures of the entrance and mikveh, the staff cleaned up the entire site over the course of the first week.
This week, Armstrong College students and Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology staff began cleaning up the site in preparation for full-scale excavation. Many weeds overtake the site throughout the year, which means our staff and volunteers have plenty to do in the lead-up to the excavation.
