Tel Jerusalem: The Place Where It All Began (Archaeological Remains From the Epipaleolithic Period to the Iron Age II Period)

Abstract

Israel as the Holy Land has been the focus of archaeologists for more than 200 years (the first excavations took place in 1810 in Ashkelon), and the city of Jerusalem has been explored for almost 180 years (Robinson, 1838). There are a substantial number of archaeologists who have had various motivations to dig in Jerusalem. The understanding of the occupation of this city has been an important issue until the present. This paper approaches the history of excavations as well as the important finds from the part of Jerusalem that is known as the City of David. Excavations in Jerusalem are problematic, because in the Old City there is not too much open space where it is possible to excavate. The majority of the Old City area is covered with modern buildings. There is no possibility for archaeologists to excavate on the platform at the Temple Mount. This is why current research is focused on the City of David, the Ophel and some areas around the Temple Mount (tunnels and the Western Wall Plaza). Only in the City of David is it possible to see continuous settlement from the Epipaleolithic period to the modern period, because of the presence of only one source of water up to the Roman period.