Finally Fun!!

The 3 photos are evidence of two kinds of fun I'm having this week.

Touring and Digging:
Photo1: is of area "G" in the city of David. It's an ancient support for buildings above it dating to times prior to David. There is a heated debate about whether it was in use during his century.

Photo 2: John and I near the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock is in the background. We had just visited Hezekiah's tunnel in the city of David so (I) had pants wet up to my knees.

Photo 3: Ido, my area supervisor, felt sorry for me (perhaps pouting all day yesterday had something to do with it?) and placed me in the courtyard dig site in the area they knew had pottery finds. I uncovered this wonderful little Iron Age oil lamp. Nearly all the pieces were present so they will be able to reconstruct it. I must confess, it was much better than the Fanta can and plastic cups combined... and much better than cleaning the pine needles out of the area.

Some preliminary conclusions regarding Ramat Rachel:
1. It came into being as an administrative center as Assyria gained control of the region. Its early monumental architecture, foreign to local architecture but familiar from northern Israel, speaks of some foreign influence.

2. It was in continuous use as a center for foreign rule (Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and Greek) until the time of the Hasmoneans (Jewish rule lasting 80 years between Greek (Hellenistic) rule and Roman rule) 146-46 BCE. At that time it was torn down. The archeologists speculate the site was a significant reminder of foreign power for nearly 500 years and as such worthy of destruction. The site then housed many Jewish ritual baths and obviously a Jewish community.

3. It later housed a portion of the Roman X legion around Jerusalem (said Legion destroyed Jerusalem, etc. in 66-70 CE.)

4. Later it became a small Christian community with a Church.

5. Later it became a small Muslim community before disappearing into oblivion.