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‘Atiqot 54 (2006)
ISBN 2948-040X
The Old City Wall of Jerusalem: The Northeastern Corner
(Hebrew, pp. 95*–119*; English summary, pp. 163–164)
Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah
Keywords: fortifications, pottery finds, Tenth Legion stamp, glass vessels, numismatics
The excavation, conducted outside the Old City wall of Jerusalem, northwest of Jaffa Gate, revealed five strata. The earliest, Stratum V, yielded finds dating to the Iron Age, Hellenistic, Early Roman and Byzantine periods. In Stratum IV, drainage channels were uncovered, leading to a reservoir, which was dated to the Byzantine period. In Stratum III, a later channel was constructed, dating to the Early Islamic period. Stratum II revealed the foundation courses of the western outer wall of a square tower from the Ayyubid period (end of twelfth–beginning of thirteenth centuries CE). Stratum I is the Ottoman city wall, built in the second half of the sixteenth century CE, which is built in part directly atop the remains of the Ayyubid fortifications. Numerous clay pipes were found in this stratum. The Ayyubid tower was probably part of the reconstruction work carried out along the city wall between the Jaffa and Damascus Gates, which was initiated during the days of the Ayyubid sultan Saladin (1191–1192 CE).