A large section of an ancient fortification has been unearthed in Jerusalem’s Old City, shedding light on why residents dismantled part of the city’s defenses over 2,000 years ago and buried them beneath what later became King Herod’s palace. The discovery, linked to the Hasmonean wall in Jerusalem, offers a new context to historical accounts and the city’s shifting power dynamics.
Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Tower of David Museum revealed a 40-meter-long (131 feet) and 5-meter-wide (16.4 feet) section of the wall, dating to the second century BC.
Found in the Kishle compound near Jaffa Gate, the site previously served as a British Mandate-era prison. The structure’s preservation and scale make it one of the most significant Hasmonean-period finds in the city to date.
Josephus’s account and theories of destruction
Dr. Amit Re’em, chief archaeologist for the Jerusalem District at the Israel Antiquities Authority, said the wall had been intentionally dismantled down to its base. He explained that only the lower portion remained, showing no signs of damage from battle or natural decay. This led the team to investigate who may have been responsible for its removal.
The timeline coincides with historical events recorded by first-century historian Flavius Josephus, who described a siege around 134 BC. According to his account, Hasmonean ruler John Hyrcanus I agreed to tear down the city’s fortifications and pay a large ransom to Antiochus VII Sidetes in exchange for lifting the siege.
Archaeological evidence from the 1980s, including catapult stones and arrowheads found nearby, supports the possibility of this military confrontation.
Hasmonean Wall in Jerusalem buried beneath Herod’s Palace
Another theory considers Herod’s role in the wall’s destruction. Re’em said the wall lies directly beneath the foundations of Herod’s palace, constructed nearly a century later.
He noted that Herod may have ordered the removal of the Hasmonean fortification to symbolically break from the previous dynasty and assert his own rule. Josephus also detailed Herod’s palace in this exact area.
The wall’s dating is based on its construction style, typical of Hasmonean architecture, as well as nearby pottery and coins from that period.
Stratigraphic analysis confirmed that it predates Herod’s structures and rests above remains from the First Temple era. Radiocarbon dating was not possible due to the dry-build method used, which lacked organic material.
Ancient layers revealed in new museum wing
During the same excavation, a section of a much older wall from the First Temple period was also uncovered. Researchers are currently analyzing samples from that wall using radiocarbon methods.
The discovery was made as the Tower of David Museum prepares to open the Kishle complex as the Schulich Wing, featuring archaeology, art, and innovation.
Museum director Eilat Lieber said the site will allow visitors to view the ancient stones through a transparent floor, offering a direct connection to Jerusalem’s layered past.
