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In February 2007 a salvage excavation was conducted in the Newe Ya’aqov neighborhood of Jerusalem, in the base of the Central Command (Permit No. A-5036; map ref. NIG 222584–602/638475–89; OIG 172584–602/138475–89) prior to the construction of buildings (Fig. 1). The excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and with funding provided by the Ministry of Defense, was directed by A. Nagar, with the participation of Y. Ohion and E. Bahar (administration), A. Hajian (surveying), E. Belashov (preparation of plans for publication), T. Sagiv (photography), N. Ze’evi (photographic archive), and O. Marder (identification of flint implements). |
Two squares were excavated along a southern slope where farming terraces (Figs. 2, 3) were exposed in which probe trenches were excavated. Ceramic artifacts and flint implements were found that were not in situ and were of no value in dating the terrace walls.
Terrace Wall 1 (width 0.95–1.55 m, height 1.75 m) was built along an east west axis of two rows of small and large fieldstones and a dense fill of small and medium fieldstones. The wall’s southern face was made of large fieldstones whereas the northern face was built of a row of small and medium fieldstones and a fill of small fieldstones was leaning against it from the north. This wall continued beyond the limits of the square.
Terrace Wall 2 (length 7.2 m) extended from north to south and abutted Wall1 from the south. The wall was built of large fieldstones and behind it was a dense fill of small and medium size fieldstones. The wall, only the northern part of which was excavated (width 1.7–2.1 m, height 0.65–1.50 m), continued south beyond the limits of the square.
The pottery finds include two rims that date to the Byzantine period which were found on the surface level. In addition a few flint tools, flakes and burin debitage were recovered that were not in situ.
The terrace walls were part of the region’s agricultural system and it is unclear when they were constructed.
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To view the figures, click on the figure caption
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