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‘Atiqot 69 (2012)
ISBN 2948-040X
The Upper Aqueduct to Jerusalem, the Church of the Kathisma and Other Remains near Hebron Road, Jerusalem
(with a contribution by Gabriela Bijovsky)
(Hebrew, pp. 69*–90*; English summary, pp. 160–162)
Ya‘akov Billig
Keywords: Water system, Christianity, agriculture, burial, numismatics, chronology
Sections of the Upper Aqueduct to Jerusalem were revealed while widening Hebron Road in Jerusalem, enabling a better understanding of its original route and date. Most of the finds scattered on surface level near the aqueduct—mainly pottery and coins—dated to the Late Roman and Byzantine periods; finds dating to the First and Second Temple periods were found as well. Other elements discovered during the excavation and surveys in the area include: agricultural terraces, burial caves, a winepress, a cistern and a quarry. In the surveyed area, at the site of Bir Qadismo, were numerous finds scattered on the surface, which pointed to the presence of a large public building, possibly a church from the Byzantine period: ashlars, column fragments, a pedestal, marble items, roof tiles and a colorful mosaic floor. These were identified as the remains of the Church of Kathisma Palaeon.