The building is located on the eastern slope of the western hill of the Old City, c. 40 m north of the Street of the Chain, the street that connects the hill to the Temple Mount. The building presently consists of a square eastern room (Fig. 2:c) and an elongated western room, divided into two bays (a, b; vaulted square architectural spaces), both roofed with groin vaults. The adjacent Room c was recently renovated, and ancient remains were therefore difficult to discern. Bays a and b were similarly constructed with vaults built of fieldstones bonded with gray mortar containing black and white grits. The bay walls were built of roughly worked, medium-sized square stones, and bonded with gray mortar containing black and white grits.
During the archaeological inspection prior to the excavation, earthen fills removed from the southern room, exposed the remains of an ancient wall (W6) traversing the room. Consequently, an excavation square (2.5 × 5.0 m), flanking W6, and spanning the width of the room, was opened. The excavation unearthed architectural remains dating to the Crusader-Ayyubid (Stratum III), the Mamluk (Stratum II) and the Ottoman (Stratum I) periods.
 
Stratum III — Crusader-Ayyubid periods (twelfth–mid-thirteenth centuries CE). Two or three construction phases were attributed to this stratum. In the early phase, Bay a (L19; 4.0 × 5.5 m, max. height 2.7 m) was constructed on a brown-gray soil fill. This phase included a pier (W5) and two walls (W1, W2), all three elements supporting the groin vault. Between Pier 5 and W1, an arch (f) was built. Pier 5, extant for six courses, was built of diagonally chiseled stones, characteristic of Crusader masonry, on a foundation of fieldstones bonded with gray mortar (Fig. 3). Mason’s marks, also characteristic of Crusader masonry, were incised on two of the pier stones. One mark was a cross surrounded by a circle, and the other was the letter A (Fig. 4). Remains of plaster were visible on the northern face of the pier, indicating that the pier was free-standing in the early phase. Two walls (W23, W24), the northern continuation of W1, were probably also built at this time. Although there is a slight deviation between W1 and W24, no seam was detected between them, and they should therefore probably be attributed to the same construction phase. A floor abutting Pier 5, consisting of soil mixed with white chalk (L14, L18; Fig. 5), probably also belongs to this period. The earthen floor (L18) continued into the area north of Bay a, indicating that in the early phase, there may have been another, northern space, possibly enclosed on the west by W23 and W24, above which Bay b was subsequently built. The plaster detected on Pier 5 strengthens the assumption that in the early phase, there was another space north of Bay a.
In a later phase, the eastern wall of Bay a (W3) was built, connecting Pier 5 to W2. Another Pier (W20) was also built at this time north of Pier 5; it is not clear whether W3 and Pier 20 were built at the same time, or in two separate construction phases. The foundation trench of W3 (L15) cut into the earthen floor (L14), and it is possible that W3 blocked another space east of Bay a. The foundation trench of Pier 20 (L22) also cut into the earthen floor (L18). In this phase, another arch was built (g), which rested on Pier 20, and on W24 from the earlier phase. Arch g abutted Arch f, and was parallel to it.
Stratum III pottery sherds include a fritware bowl (Syrian Under Glaze Fritware; Fig. 6:1), dated from the mid-thirteenth to fourteenth centuries CE, a Monochrome Glazed Bowl (Fig. 6:2), dated from the thirteenth to fourteenth centuries CE, a plain unglazed bowl (Fig. 6:3) with a chronological range from the twelfth to fifteenth centuries CE, and cooking pots dated to the thirteenth century CE (Fig. 6:4, 5).
Other finds from this stratum include a bronze weight dating to the Fatimid period (eleventh century CE), that was found in the foundations of Pier 5 (Fig. 7; Amitai-Preiss, below), and a coin of Emperor Claudius from 54 CE (IAA 161714), retrieved in the earthen fill (L19), on which Bay a was built.
 
Stratum II — Mamluk period (mid-thirteenth–fifteenth centuries CE). Three construction phases were attributed to this period. In the early phase, Bay b (4.0 × 4.5 m, maximum height 3 m) was built, including its northern wall (W4) incorporating two piers on either side of the wall (W11, W25), and another pier (W21) was built in the southeastern corner of the bay, north of Pier 20. The doorway into the room (i) was set in W4. Stratum III Wall 23 continued in use in Stratum II, and delimited Bay b on the west. Bay b was roofed with a groin vault, which rested on Piers 11, 21 and 25 and on Wall 23. A light brown soil fill layer (L10; Fig. 2: Section 2–2) overlying the Stratum III packed earth floor, yielded a coin of Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem (1143–1163 CE; IAA 161712). A tabun (L16; Fig. 8), built of poorly fired clay, and surrounded by much burnt material, was also discovered in Fill 10. In Stratum II, Bay a continued in use alongside Bay b.
In the middle phase, Wall 6 was built in the northern part of Bay a, the wall abutting W1 on the west, and the northeastern corner of Bay a on the east, and cutting into the soil of Fill 10. Wall 6 was built of various-sized fieldstones, and was preserved for a maximum of two courses; only the stones of the northern wall face were laid regularly. A brown-gray soil fill (L26) abutted the southern face of W6, up to its top. The fill yielded an Ottoman-period coin (fifteenth century CE; IAA 161713). A white-gray plaster floor (L17) abutted the northern face of W6, and Piers 5, 20 and 21 (Fig. 9). The fact that only the northern face stones of W6 were regularly set, suggests the wall did not serve to divide the two bays, but rather to raise the height of Bay a. It seems that in this phase, Fill 26 was purposely laid in order to raise the floor level in Bay a, and that W6 was constructed to retain it on the north. The division of a house into two spaces, at lower and higher levels, is known in urban construction in the country, beginning in the Mamluk period (Fuchs 1998:87, 118). The lower area of the building, called ka’a al-beit, was used for household work, while the higher area was the dwelling and sleeping area.
In the later phase, a white chalk floor (L8), laid on small and medium-sized fieldstones (L9, L13), was installed above plaster Floor 17. Floor 8 abutted W24 and Pier 21, and was slightly higher than the top of W6, thus putting it out of use. South of W6, additional chalk floor patches were found at a similar elevation as Floor 8, and they were presumably part of the same floor that extending into Bay a.
Stratum II pottery finds include a decorated bowl (Fig. 6:6), an handmade bowl with geometric decoration (Fig. 6:7; HMGW), a krater (Fig. 6:8), a jug (Fig. 6:9), an HMGW jar (Fig. 6:10) and a krater handle (Fig. 6:11).
 
Stratum I — Ottoman period (sixteenth–twentieth centuries CE). Two construction phases were attributed to this period. In the early phase, the eastern room of the building, Room c (6 × 6 m) was built. Room c had a dome roof, and its elevation was c. 1 m higher than the level of the western room. In the later phase, a corridor (d), roofed with a barrel vault connecting the eastern and western rooms, was built. The doorway of the building was located at the northern end of Corridor d, facing north onto an open courtyard, around which other houses were built. A doorway on the eastern side of Corridor d, led into Room c, and an opening leading into Bay b, was created on the western side of the corridor (h; length 2.2 m, max. height 2.8 m). Opening h was covered with a slightly pointed arch. At this stage, opening i in W4, the northern wall of Bay b was blocked up, and the floor level of the western room was raised (this layer was removed in the course of the preliminary archaeological  inspection work). A niche, or square window (j; 0.5 × 0.5 m, depth 3 m) may have been installed in W23 in this phase, as well as an arched niche (e; 0.5 × 1.4 m, depth 0.3 m) in W2. It is also possible that these niches were installed in an earlier phase, and only blocked in this phase. Above the window frames in the northern and western walls of Room c, as well as above the doorway into Corridor d, stones carved with ribbed stars, geometric and vegetal patterns, were found (Figs. 10–12), as well as a dressed stone in the western wall with a carved round projection  (Fig. 13). Some scholars regard these symbols as of magical significance (Auld 2000:361).
 
Archaeozoology
Tehila Shadiel
 
The excavation yielded 84 animal bones, some from Stratum III, the Crusader–Ayyubid periods (NISP=50), and others from Stratum II, the Mamluk period (NISP=34). The bones were examined in the field, in order to identify pathology, distal ends, burning and cutting. The bones were identified to the level of species and skeletal part.
 
In Stratum III, many bones were found in the mixed soil and chalk floor (L14, L18; NISP=29; Table 1). Most were identified as sheep (NISP=21), and a few as cattle (NISP=4), canines (NISP=2), and a pigeon (NISP=1). Most of the bones from Floor 18 were fused, and were therefore attributed to adult individuals. Cutting was detected on three bones (pigeon, cattle and sheep), attesting to butchering for consumption. Cutting signs observed on meat-poor body parts, were probably due to animal butchering for consumption. One of the cattle bones exhibited a stress fracture, attesting to use for labor as a beast of burden, or for plowing.
In Stratum II, fewer bones were retrieved (Table 2). In the stone floor foundation (L13), pigeon (NISP=3) and sheep (NISP=3) bones were found. The pigeon bones were relatively intact, and derived from the meat-rich parts, as did the sheep bones. In the earthen fill (L10), remains of sheep (NISP=13) and cattle (NISP=3) bones were discovered, as well as a rooster bone and a donkey bone. Most of the sheep bones came from meat-rich parts (NISP=9), as did the cattle and rooster bones. No cutting or burning signs were found. However, ten burnt sheep bones were found in the tabun (L16) that was unearthed in Fill 10. Six of the bones were not fused, and they were therefore attributed to young individuals; the sheep were probably consumed at a young age, to take advantage of the meat quality.
 
Table 1. Bones from Stratum III Crusader–Ayyubid period

Locus

Species

Skeletal part

N

14

Sheep

Horn

1

Metacarpal

1

Metatarsal

2

Rib

2

Tibia

1

Canine

Pelvis

1

Humerus

1

18

Sheep

Scapula

1

Humerus

1

Metacarpal

1

Metatarsal

2

Rib

3

Phalange

1

Skull

1

Femur

1

Scapula

1

Vertebra

1

Molar M2 upper jaw

1

Molar M1 lower jaw

1

Cattle

Astragal

1

Phalange

1

Molar M2 upper jaw

1

Molar M2 lower jaw

1

Pigeon

Femur

1

19

Sheep

Metacarpal

5

Rib

2

Femur

2

Ulna

1

Molar M1 lower jaw

1

Cattle

Phalange

1

 

Metacarpal

1

Rib

1

Tibia

1

Long bone

1

Pelvis

1

Pigeon

Femur

1

Canines

Femur

1

Femur

2

 
Table 2. Bones from Stratum II Mamluk period

Locus

Species

Skeletal part

N

10

Sheep

Rib

5

Long bone

1

Femur

1

Metatarsal

1

Phalange

3

Metacarpal

1

Humerus

1

Cattle

Long bone

2

Vertebra

1

Rooster

Humerus

1

Equids

Rib

1

13

Sheep

Rib

1

Vertebra

1

Pigeon

Scapula

1

Radius

1

Long bone

1

16

Sheep

Metacarpal

2

Humerus

1

Rib

1

Phalange

1

Vertebra

3

Ulna

1

Long bone

1

 
Bronze Weight
Nitzan Amitai-Preiss
 
A barrel-shaped, 5­-dirham bronze weight was found in the foundation of Pier 5 (W5, B135; 14.06 gram; max. diam. 1.56 cm, height 1.05 cm; Fig. 7). It resembles weights of 14.5 gram found in Caesarea (Holland 2009:43, No. 114), and a weight of 15.53 gram, found in Ramla (Khamis 2010:282). A triangle was engraved on one of the weight’s bases. This type of weight, and its mass are known, but there is no parallel to the triangle, or any other incised designs on a weight. Similar weights sometimes bore an engraved inscription on one of their bases, e.g. a 10-dirham weight from Caesarea (Holland 2009:43, No. 115, inscription illegible). The triangle may have been a symbol engraved by a trader, to signify ownership of the weight, which he used for commerce.
 
The excavation revealed three construction strata from three different periods, each comprising a few phases. Firstly, in the Crusader–Ayyubid period (Stratum III), Bay a was built, to the north and east of which additional units were probably constructed. In the Mamluk period (Stratum II), Bay b was built to the north of Bay a. In the Ottoman period (Stratum I), Room c was built to the east of the two bays, and at some point, a doorway was cut, connecting the buildings. Over the years, changes and additional constructional activities were carried out.