Welcome to the 2026 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 2026 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.
Much like the previous phases (2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025), the 2026 season will focus primarily on revealing Second Temple Period structures and material. This year, there are three areas of concentration—Area D, Area D1 and a short probe of Area P. 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.
June 28: Let It Begin
The Armstrong crew began cleaning the site in preparation for excavation to start next week. It was a hot day with no shades, but everyone was excited to be out at the site! You can see the results of a day’s labor in a few before-and-after shots.
