This is an intriguing find.
Recent archaeological work in Jerusalem’s Har Hotzvim neighborhood has revealed a major limestone quarry, which is believed to have supplied materials for several prominent historical construction endeavors. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has indicated that some of the quarry’s stone slabs were likely used in the construction of a road traveled by Jesus and his disciples approximately 2,000 years ago, as well as in various projects commissioned by King Herod the Great and his successors.
This quarry, identified as the largest of its type from the Second Temple period found in the region, was officially recognized by the IAA and reported by the Biblical Archaeology Society on August 5. Among the findings are massive stones, each weighing about 2.5 tons, which were employed in the Pilgrimage Road currently being unearthed in the City of David. This ancient thoroughfare linked the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus performed a miracle, to the Jewish Temple, a site of his prayers.
The excavation team, led by Cherning and Lara Shilov, has determined that these substantial stones were likely used in several grand construction projects initiated during the late Second Temple era, beginning with King Herod the Great’s reign from 37 to 4 BCE. Herod’s ambitious building projects included the expansion of the Temple Mount and the creation of numerous public edifices, palaces, and fortifications, all of which required high-quality stone. These large-scale projects were continued by Herod’s successors.
So far, around one acre of the quarry has been examined, but much of the site remains unexplored. The area is earmarked for industrial and commercial development by the Vitania company, which is financing the archaeological work following the quarry’s discovery during construction. The excavation has revealed numerous building stones and quarrying trenches, indicating the quarry’s significant output.
These discoveries suggest that the quarry’s stones were used not only in Herod’s Temple but also in other major structures, including the Temple Mount and various first-century buildings and palaces erected by Herod Agrippa I, Herod’s grandson. Continued excavation by the IAA may provide further insights into the sources of materials used in Herodian construction projects in Jerusalem.