Archaeologists from the Defense Ministry have recently disclosed the uncovering of remnants from quarries and a stonemason’s workshop on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

This discovery was made during excavation work carried out as part of a highway expansion project in the West Bank.

The Civil Administration, an entity under the purview of the Defense Ministry responsible for civilian affairs in the West Bank, has reported that the site dates back to the Second Temple period, Times of Israel reported.

The excavation has revealed what they describe as “a complete production center” for stoneware, situated alongside several interconnected quarries.

This site, hailed as a “significant and rare find” in a statement from the administration, is positioned between the Adam settlement and the Palestinian town of Hizma.

It’s worth noting that approximately three decades ago, the archaeology department of the same unit uncovered a similar workshop dedicated to stoneware production in the vicinity.

Although the site was determined to belong to the Second Temple period, which spanned from the 6th century BCE to 70 CE, no precise estimates were offered regarding the specific timeframe during which it was operational.

Written by staff