The Temple Mount Sifting Project

Being assigned to an army base in the Negev, I thought it would be fun to “experience” the south. I tried so very hard to put together a weekend of adventure south of Beer Sheva; unfortunately, without a car, it seemed a bit short of activities to keep us going for the first weekend away from the base. The thought of being stranded in the desert with nothing to do on Shabbat was not appealing. Jerusalem called – and we answered.















Our Friday activity was a sifting project at the Tzurim Valley National Park. The story behind this project is poignant and sad. But first, a little history.

Herod build the Temple Mount about 2000 years ago on Mount Moriah; it is best described as a platform around the temple. Visualize a hill that was covered by a shoebox. The southern side had 88 arches and columns to support the platform. There were many cisterns and passageways that were last used by the Crusaders/Christian Knights for stables. These were known as the Solomon’s Stables. This was classic Herodian architecture.

For centuries after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans, either foreign rulers or the Islamic Wakf have forbidden any work on the mount itself. In addition they have never allowed access to the site or to anything underground.



The first problems began about 13 years ago when the stables became a mosque. In the building, windows were opened in the southeast walls. There was no architectural oversight during this construction and many “old things” were destroyed. Three years later, in the construction of an emergency exit (which would have been underground at the time), more than 10,000 tons of dirt were excavated and unceremoniously dumped just outside of the city in the Kidron Valley. This was NOT an excavation in the archeological sense, but rather tractors and backhoes clearing an area with wanton disregard. There had never been any archeological study conducted on the Temple Mount.

The Islamic Wakf, the Moslem trust, conducted this illegal construction project. In 1999, archeologists believed that it was the goal of the Wakf to turn every vacant point on the Mount into a mosque, and secondly by doing this without sanctioned oversight, to prevent any archaeological research on the mount that might reveal elements of its Jewish past. The soil is literally bursting with archeological wealth relevant to Christian and Moslem, as well as Jewish history.

The soil was believed to be rich in information, as the human history of the Temple Mount was undocumented. Even though the examination of soil and artifacts were no longer in their original contexts; it remained an important task to undertake. The first task of the project was to move the soil to the Tzurim Valley National Park, where the current project is located. Initially mechanical portable screeners were used; and then replaced with hand sifting and a process of washing the material and scrutinizing it to identify all the archaeological artifacts.

Funded with private donations in 2005, the project has sifted through 15 percent of the rubble to date. The staff and volunteers (50,000 and counting) have uncovered history-rich artifacts, from the First Temple Period until today amidst the rubble, including a large amount of pottery dating from the Bronze Ages through modern times, a large segment of a marble pillar's shaft, and over 100 ancient coins, among them several from the Hasmonean dynasty. Primarily volunteers who heard of the project by word of mouth and through Jerusalem-based email lists have conducted the work at the site.



And this is where we enter the current project. Aron gave us an overview of the project and off to the sifting tables we went. We chose a bucket with material soaked in water, spill it onto a screen, and spread the mud out evenly. The material on each screen is thoroughly washed;



it is picked over for any man-made items. Generally, there are six common types of finds:



* Pottery
* Glass shards
* Bones
* Metals
* Mosaic stones
* Rarer finds such as coins, seals or jewelry may also turn up.



And did I have a lucky day! I was quite proud of myself when I identified a knuckle of some biblical animal. That went into the “Bones” bucket.












The other items that I wasn’t sure of were the winners:








a piece of a speckled glass ring that was dated to the Byzantine era, and a triangle piece of Opus Sectile (floor tiles).










These artifacts were put into little plastic bags and labeled with identifying info that included my name and email address.




My friend Doris found a coin.(This apparently is the official pose for anyone finding a coin!)













Frankie stressed that the finds are unique because they are part of the first archaeological project that has ever examined artifacts from the Temple Mount. Frankie has been studying the glass and was very excited to add another piece to her the collection.



Every one is very important and exceptional. Even the smallest piece of pottery that is found can be dated to a certain period of history which, when processed statistically, will help to understand the amount and types of activities that took place on the Temple Mount throughout history. The project’s deeper meaning is a spiritual connection to a wonderful and holy place.

Replaying this memory has certainly increased the depth of this experience. It started out as part of a continuing adventure and concluded as one of the most meaningful events in my life… making history.

Controversy has always been associated the Temple Mount and, unfortunately, will continue to be a dividing line in the sand of religious beliefs. For more information regarding the project, go to http://templemount.wordpress.com

This is a text associated with the Project:
Thou wilt arise, and have compassion upon Zion; for it is time to be gracious unto her, for the appointed time is come: For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and love her dust (Psalms 102: 14-15).

And the adventure continues…