Digging up Jerusalem
Archaeologist Doron Ben Ami will visit campus to speak about his excavation in the City of David.
“One need only glance at a recent newspaper or listen to the daily news to recognize how immensely important the city of Jerusalem is in modern politics,” said Jewish Studies Program Director Risa Levitt Kohn.
At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, the San Diego State University Jewish Studies Program will host Archaeologist Doron Ben-Ami, who will speak on “Excavating the Holy City: New Archeological Discoveries in Jerusalem” at Scripps Cottage.
Uncovering history
Ben-Ami completed the Givati parking lot excavation in the City of David; the largest, most comprehensive excavation in Jerusalem today. At this free event, open to the public, he will share stories from his time working on the project and answer questions from the audience.
“This lecture helps highlight the fact that this more than 3,000-year-old city has always been a cultural crossroads,” Levitt Kohn said.
“Archaeological excavations illuminate the city's past in a very important way and help us appreciate the way in which the material culture of locals, nomads and invaders have intermingled in this unique and fabled city.”
Layers of the city's life from the Middle Ages have been unearthed in the process of excavating this former parking lot, adjacent to the City of David archaeological park. Some findings, including a building from the Second Temple period, date back to biblical times. Exciting discoveries also include a trove of coins from the Byzantine period, and recently, a 1,700-year-old curse tablet in the ruins of a Roman mansion.
Parking
Complimentary parking will be available in parking structure 4 in levels 1-3.
