Burnt House, Archaeological museum in Jewish Quarter, Jerusalem
The Burnt House is an archaeological museum in Jerusalem's Jewish Quarter that displays the remains of a dwelling buried six meters below the current street level. The structure contained multiple rooms, including a kitchen, a dining area, and a ritual bath, which were typical features of a wealthy household from the Second Temple period.
The building was destroyed during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE as the Jewish Revolt came to an end. The fire that reduced the structure to ash left traces that help archaeologists today understand this turbulent period.
The dwelling reveals how a prosperous Jewish family lived during the Second Temple period, with spaces designed for religious purification rituals. The room arrangement and discovered objects tell the story of daily life for a family that observed their traditions carefully.
The museum is located in the Old City and is quite compact, so plan for about 45 minutes to an hour to visit. A short film depicts daily life scenes from that era and helps contextualize the displayed objects.
Excavations uncovered human bone fragments of an arm in the kitchen area, showing directly how rapid and devastating the fire was. This discovery offers a rare personal glimpse into the final moments that occurred in this space.
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