In February 2020, a salvage excavation was conducted at 15 Bar Ilan Street in Jerusalem (Permit No. A-8693; map ref. 220812–79/633578–99; Fig. 1), following damage to an ancient quarry caused by construction work. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Michael Kamigrov, was directed by N. Benenstein, with the assistance of N. Nehama (administration), K. Arbiv (metal detection), S. Halevi (photography and photogrammetry), I. Litvak (plan and photogrammetry), A. Re’em and Y. Zelinger (scientific assistance).
The excavation uncovered a quarry (L101; max. dimensions 2 × 17 m, depth 1.3 m; Figs. 2–6) on a north–south alignment whose stones were used to
build tombs such as found in the Sanhedriyya neighborhood. Other quarries, discovered in the Sanhedriyya neighborhood, suggest that the quarry was originally larger than the excavation
uncovered. The excavation yielded no diagnostic pottery. Nevertheless, judging by finds from quarries and tombs previously excavated in the vicinity (Kloner 2002: Sites 142–146, 218–231;
Bar-Nathan 2008;
Finkielsztejn 2009;
Sulimani 2016), they can be attributed to the Late Roman and Byzantine periods.
Bar-Nathan R. 2008. Jerusalem, Sanhedriyya. HA-ESI 120.
Finkielsztejn G. 2009. Jerusalem, Nisan Beck Street. HA-ESI 121.
Kloner A. 2002. Survey of Jerusalem: The Northwestern Sector (Archaeological Survey of Israel). Jerusalem.
Sulimani G. 2016. Jerusalem, Sanhedrin Street. HA-ESI 128.