Jerusalem Archaeological Park, Archaeological site near Western Wall in Old City, Jerusalem, Israel
The Jerusalem Archaeological Park is an open-air excavation site in the Old City of Jerusalem, located directly south and southwest of Temple Mount. Exposed streets, monumental staircases, ritual baths, and walls from several ancient periods are visible and accessible across the site.
In the 1st century, the area served as a main approach to the Temple, lined with a paved road and large commercial buildings. Roman forces destroyed the district in 70 CE, and the rubble from that event buried the street for centuries until modern excavations began in the 1960s.
The Davidson Center, located at the edge of the excavated area, displays objects found during the digs and explains how pilgrims used this space in their daily religious lives. Walking through the outdoor site today, visitors can trace the original path that worshippers once took toward the sacred hill.
The site is within walking distance of the Dung Gate and sits at the edge of the Old City, making it easy to combine with a visit to nearby areas. Most of the ground is uneven exposed stone, so sturdy shoes and water are worth bringing, especially in the warmer months when shade is limited.
A drainage channel running beneath the ancient main street was found to contain everyday objects left behind by people fleeing during the Roman assault, including intact pottery and coins lying exactly where they had fallen. Nothing had moved them in nearly 2,000 years, making this one of the few places where a moment of sudden abandonment is frozen in place.
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