Ancient village discovered in Jerusalem

During excavations of the village, archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority discovered several broken jar fragments, as well as a water tank and stone quarries. The remains of the village were found beneath the Sharafat area near Jerusalem.

Researchers have previously found evidence of baths and ancient settlements at the site, but the discovery of a multi-generational burial chamber – the most significant find to date – suggests the village may have been much larger than archaeologists thought.

The burial chamber is accessed via a corridor leading to a courtyard with rock carvings, a stone bench, and the entrance to a multi-chambered burial cave. Some of the decorative stonework displays a craftsmanship usually found only in monumental buildings or the burial sites of wealthy families.

Archaeological evidence dates back to around 140-37 BC, indicating that the ancient village belonged to the Hasmonean period. During the Hasmonean dynasty, Jerusalem gained its geopolitical status.

“It appears that the burial site belonged to a wealthy or prominent family during the Hasmonean period. It is common in this area for burial sites to be used for several generations,” said Ya’akov Billig, head of the excavation team and an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The latest findings suggest that archaeologists have only uncovered a small part of the ancient village. Researchers estimate that there is much more buried beneath the surface. Evidence suggests that the village was agricultural in nature. Residents likely produced wine and olive oil, among other products.

Excavations also revealed a dovecote carved into a stone wall. During the Second Temple Period, between 516 BC and AD 70, doves were kept as temple offerings, as well as for food. Their droppings were used as fertilizer.

Officials at the Israel Antiquities Authority are now considering whether to put some of the excavated artifacts on public exhibition.