A complementary excavation of the ‘Burnt House’ was undertaken in September 2002 (License No. G-63/2002), as part of renovating the remains at the site prior to its reopening for the public. The excavation, on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Exploration Society, was directed by H. Geva, with the assistance of O. Gutfeld and R. Nanner.
The ‘Burnt House’, a residence in the Upper City of Jerusalem from the end of the Second Temple period, was excavated in 1970 by N. Avigad. The remains of the house were found sealed under the collapse and conflagration of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. An earthen balk was left in one of the rooms of the house, as evidence for the destruction.
The earthen balk left from the 1970 season was removed in the current excavation and the entire length of the room was exposed. The northern wall of the room, including a stone-built threshold of an entrance leading into the adjacent room, was discovered below the balk. A tabun of dark clay was found in the corner of the room. The earthen balk contained masonry stones, remains of charred wood and some finds, including several complete stone vessels (Fig. 1).