Jerusalem Ophel Excavation 2023: Ornate Herodian-Period Ceiling Panel

This amazing discovery was made on one of the final days of excavation while removing a Byzantine wall. The ornate carvings include four separate rosettes, which is a well-known motif from the Herodian period, particularly on the Ophel. Originally, this ceiling panel would likely have adorned the ceiling or lintel of a small room in an important structure. According to dig codirector Dr. Orit Peleg-Barkat, one of the world’s foremost experts on Second Temple Period architecture, this Ophel ceiling panel is the most impressive ever discovered in Jerusalem.