Two thousand years ago, Jewish worshipers walked on the Wilson’s Arch located to the left of the Western Wall to access the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, researchers have revealed.
The finding is part of the results of a project carried out in cooperation by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Tel Aviv University which were published in the journal PLOS ONE on Wednesday.
The research also led to the discovery of a previously unknown theater-like structure in the area, offering a new extraordinary glimpse into the history of Jerusalem.
As explained to The Jerusalem Post by IAA archaeologist Dr. Joe Uziel, in the past radio-carbon dating has been used only very sporadically in the city and this new initiative aims at dramatically changing the situation in order to “set the clock of remains in ancient Jerusalem.”
For this purpose, the researchers have also pioneered new methodologies identifying organic material in the mortar between the stones to allow the analysis.
Located inside the complex of the Western Wall tunnels, Wilson’s Arch is the last prior to entering the Temple Mount and is named after the British explorer Charles Wilson, who documented it in the second half of the 18th century.
Read More: Jerusalem Post