Remains from the Late Byzantine, Early Islamic, Mamluk and Late Ottoman Periods in Ẓahal Square Tunnel, Jerusalem (pp. 193–210)

Excavations at Ẓahal Square, Jerusalem, have uncovered critical remains that trace the city's urban expansion and fortification systems from the late Byzantine–Umayyad period to the late Ottoman era. Among the discoveries is a rare Greek inscription etched in bedrock, providing direct evidence of Jerusalem's development during this transitional period. The excavation also revealed hewn walls of a deep moat and remnants of a forewall, offering unprecedented insights into the city's early Islamic fortifications along its northwestern corner. These structures were part of a broader defensive system that fell into disuse following destruction by the Ayyubid Sultan al-Malik al-Mu‘azzam ‘Isa in the 13th century CE. The findings reconstruct Jerusalem's evolving urban landscape and military architecture, contributing significantly to our understanding of its historical layers.

Weksler-Bdolah, S. (2025). Remains from the Late Byzantine, Early Islamic, Mamluk and Late Ottoman Periods in Ẓahal Square Tunnel, Jerusalem (pp. 193–210). ’Atiqot, 104(1). https://doi.org/10.70967/2948-040x.1926