January 01, 2006

Archaeologists have recently uncovered what they believe to be a large Jewish settlement dating back from the time of the Second Temple near the Shweifat Refugee Camp north of Jerusalem.

The excavations are being conducted by the Antiquities Authority at the request of the Moriah development company on the route of where the Jerusalem light railway is supposed to be built.

Archaeologist Debbie Sakler-Parnas, who is in charge of the dig, said that the findings imply that an affluent population lived in the area and that it was probably the largest Jewish settlement uncovered in the vicinity of Jerusalem to date.

A large number of stone tools were discovered, the use of which was important to the religious practices of the inhabitants. Other artifacts uncovered included wine vases imported from Italy and Greece and Roman glass rings -the first of their kind discovered in ancient Judea.

Seker-Parnas added that the village had apparently continued to be inhabited under Roman military rule, leading to new theories about the outcome of the First Jewish Revolt.

SOURCE: Haaretz