Deus Artefacta: Temple Mount Salvage Operation

Temple Mount Antiquities Salvage Operation, 2009
David Graves, Zachi Zweig, Scott Stripling

Temple Mount Salvage Project - Jerusalem

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Delving into the depths of the ancient Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel, is a dream come true for any archaeologist. In 2009, I had the incredible opportunity to work at the Temple Mount Antiquities Salvage Operation, under the guidance of renowned archaeologist Dr. Gabriel Barkay from Bar Ilan University and his assistant Zachi Zweig. This project, also known as the Temple Mount Salvage Project, aimed to explore the unexcavated areas of the Temple Mount and uncover any hidden treasures that lay beneath.

As I arrived at the site, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. The Temple Mount is a holy site for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, making it one of the most contested and sought-after locations in the world. The chance to be a part of a project here was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will always cherish.

However, as I began my work on the project, I quickly realized that this was not your typical archaeological dig. Unlike other excavations, the Temple Mount Salvage Project did not have a clear historical background or any previous archaeological work to build upon. The project was chosen due to its non-provenance nature, meaning that the artifacts found did not have a clear origin or connection to a specific time period or culture. However the soil was from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

During the archaeologically unsupervised construction at Solomon’s Stables (1996–1999) and the replacement of an electrical cable at the el-Marwani Mosque underneath the al-Aqsa Mosque compound (July 2007) under the supervision of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf which oversees the Mosques, some 400 truckloads of archaeologically rich topsoil were removed from the Temple Mount and dumped in the Kidron Valley. Although this soil was disturbed from its original location (unprovenanced), Gabriel Barkay and Zachi Dvira (Zweig) proposed that it should be sifted to reclaim the valuable artifacts that may be lost forever if discarded.

The dirt and debris were moved to a location just below the Hebrew University’s campus on Mount Scopus. The Temple Mount Sifting Project (formerly known as the Temple Mount Salvage Operation), with the help of many volunteers including the author, began dry/wet sifting the piles of dirt in 2005 under the direction of Barkay and Zweig. Barkay explained that:

since the layering of soil — its stratigraphy, a key element to dating artifacts — is no longer intact, they assume a reverse stratigraphy: The trucks dumped the uppermost layers of soil first, then heaped deeper layers atop it. . . . Barkay made regular reference to biblical and post-biblical characters in corresponding the items to time periods: clay figurines smashed during the time of the just kings of Judah, seal impressions with the names of priests mentioned in the book of Jeremiah and coins minted during the rein of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who fought the Maccabees. [1]

Frankie Snyder holding two of the reconstructed tiles
that originally were used in the portico of the
Jewish Temple built by King Herod.
Courtesy of Hillel Richman and Frankie Snyder, 2016

Since 1999 many opus sectile tiles in various colors, shapes and sizes have been recovered from the sifting of the soil. In 2016, Frankie Snyder, a project team member with an academic background in mathematics and Judaic studies, was able to recreate the geometric patterns of the stone tile floors of the porticos of the Jewish Temple built by King Herod. She has been able to recreate seven different Herodian floor tile designs and two Crusader patterns so far. For the first time we can look down at the floors of the courtyard of the Jewish Temple.

While over 6,000 coins, numerous seals (one made of stone), fragments of pottery and glass vessels, metal objects, bones, worked stones, opus sectile and mosaic tesserae stones, one burned stamp seal stands out. The sixth cent. BC partially inscribed seal impression (bulla) contains the priestly name of Immer (fig. 121). The Bible mentions the priestly family of Immer (Ezra 2:37, 59; 10:20; Neh 3:29; 7:40, 61; 11:13; 1 Chr 9:12; 24:14) and Pashur Ben Immer (Jer 20:1; 38:1), who had administrative control over Solomon’s Temple (seventh–sixth cent. BC), and who “beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the LORD” (Jer 20:2). [2]

Seal impression from the Temple Mount with
a partial inscription that reads “Belonging to
Ga’alyahu son of Immer.” Immer was the
priestly family which controlled the Temple
area during Solomon’s day and who beat and
imprisoned the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 20:1).
Courtesy of Zachi Dvira

Barkay stated in his second progress report that: “The letters preserved on the middle register are “ליהו” “...lyhw” while the bottom register reads “אמר...” “...)mr”. In light of another published seal, it may be possible to complete the writing as “לגא]ליהו.[בן]אמר]” (Belonging to Ga’alyahu son of Immer [Ha-Cohen])” or “Gedalyahu ben Pashur,” meaning “Belonging to Gedaliah, son of Pashur [=the priest]”.[3]

The lack of provenance made it challenging to determine the significance and historical context of the items they uncovered. But despite the limitations, they made some remarkable discoveries. They sifted through layers of dirt, carefully examining every speck for any signs of the past. From pottery shards to jewelry pieces, every find was a puzzle piece that added to the overall picture of the Temple Mount's history.

Wet sifting my bucket and found a coin.

But perhaps the most significant aspect of this project was the insight it provided into biblical study. The Temple Mount is a crucial site in the Bible, and our findings offered a glimpse into the lives of the people who lived and worshipped here centuries ago. The project also sparked debates and discussions among scholars, challenging traditional beliefs and providing new perspectives on biblical events.

In conclusion, my time at the Temple Mount Salvage Project was an unforgettable experience. While it may not have been a traditional excavation, the project's significance in uncovering the mysteries of the Temple Mount and its impact on biblical study cannot be denied. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this unique and groundbreaking project.

Coin found in wet sifting, 2007

While these artifacts have been disturbed from their original location (not found in situ), leading to some items not being identified, they do tell their own story about those who walked on the Temple Mount throughout history.

I have worked on the project on two separate occasions and can hardly call it an excavation. The usefulness of this site is limited at best since there is no stratification and nothing found in-situ. For further research on the Temple Mount sifting project consult a good encyclopedia, journal articles, and books that specialize in the subject. This will give you a cross section of material.

Official Blog Website LINK Check out their list of media Reports links.
The Temple Mount Archaeological Destruction LINK
Barkay, Gabriele. 2nd Progress Report on the Temple Mount Antiquities Salvage Operation: A Hebrew Bulla from the Temple Mount. The Temple Mount Sifting Project, August 11, 2005. PDF
Franz, Gordon. "Beneath the Surface: The Temple Mount Sifting Project." Bible and Spade 22, no. 1 (2009): 1–2. PDF
Franz, Gordon, and Stephanie Hernandez. "The Most Important Discovery Was the People: An Interview with Dr. Gabriel Barkay." Bible and Spade 22, no. 1 (2009): 3–8.PDF
Hammer, Joshua. "What is Beneath the Temple Mount? As Israeli archaeologists recover artifacts from the religious site, ancient history inflames modern–day political tensions. " Smithsonian Magazine April 2011. LINK
Zweig, Zachi Dvira. "Sifting by volunteers reveals hidden story." Esra Magazine No. 175 May 2013. LINK Zachi is the assistant director of the Temple Mount Sifting Project.

Also, you will want to consult Dr. Leen Ritmeyer as he is the world’s leading expert on the Temple Mount and one of the consultants on the Tall el–Hammam excavation project. I think he has expressed some views on the Salvage Project on his blog.

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias:

The list of abbreviations can be found here. LINK

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Footnotes

[1] Ilan Ben Zion, “Temple Mount Archaeological Project Yields Treasure, Unearths Conflict,” The Times of Israel, June 6, 2014, n.p., http://www.timesofisrael.com/temple-mount-project-yields-treasure-but-unearths-conflict/

[2] For a treatment of previous inscriptions and discoveries see Philip J. King, Jeremiah: An Archaeological Companion (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox, 1993).

[3] Gabriel Barkay, 2^nd Progress Report on the Temple Mount Antiquities Salvage Operation: A Hebrew Bulla from the Temple Mount (The Temple Mount Sifting Project, August 11, 2005), 1–9 .

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Further information on NT Cities see Ramsay's The Cities of St. Paul, Updated and Revised.

For Journal articles and papers see