Discoveries from First Temple Period

The First Temple was built by King Solomon during the 10th century BCE in 957 BCE. It was the center of ancient Judaism. The Temple replaced the Tabernacle of Moses and the Tabernacles at Shiloh, Nov, and Givon as the central focus of Jewish faith. This First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.

Undisturbed layers from the First Temple period (1000-586 B.C.) are not often found anywhere in Jerusalem. This is because later building activities in this area erased or damaged remains from the First Temple period. It is therefore amazing that - despite this - very important remains have been discovered from this period.

Just recently, the Israel Antiquities Authority discovered a rich layer of finds from the latter part of the First Temple period (8th-6th centuries B.C.E.) near the Western Wall plaza.

It is actually the first time in the history of archaeological research in Jerusalem that building remains from the First Temple period were exposed so close to the Temple Mount - on the eastern slopes of the Upper City. The walls of the buildings are still preserved to a height of more than 2 meters.

In the excavations, the remains of a magnificent colonnaded street [a street, lined by columns] from the late Roman period (2nd century C.E.) were uncovered; the street appears on the mosaic Madaba map, and is referred to by the name - the Eastern Cardo.

In ancient Roman city planning, a cardo was a north-south-oriented street that served as the center of economic life. The street was usually lined with shops, merchants, and vendors. It was the "hinge" or axis of the city. The Cardo in the Old City of Jerusalem was a good example. After the Jewish rebellion of 70 CE was crushed by Titus' troops, Jerusalem was renamed Colonia Aelia Capitolina, and a long colonnaded Cardo was built, running across the city from north to south.

The level of the Eastern Cardo was paved with large heavy limestone pavers that were set directly atop the layer that dates to the end of the First Temple period. This Roman road thus “seals” beneath it the finds from the First Temple period, and protected them from being destroyed in later periods.

The Madaba Map is a mosaic on the floor of a church in the town of Madaba (present-day Jordan), during the sixth century. The map portrays the Holy Land most accurately. Its centerpiece is the walled city of Jerusalem, represented by its walls, gates, streets and principle buildings. The Cardo, extending in a straight line southward from Damascus Gate is clearly seen, and the city's walls and gates are plainly marked.