During February 2007, a salvage excavation was conducted on the road to Jericho (the Lions’ Gate memorial), adjacent to the Lions’ Gate (Permit No. A-5032; map ref. 222730/632060), prior to rehabilitation work on a retaining wall. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and with assistance of the Department of Urban Improvement and Beautification of the Jerusalem Municipality, was directed by Z. ‘Adawi, assisted by A. Nagar (GPS).
The excavation area was located below the retaining wall of the Lions’ Gate memorial—the Wounded Eagle Memorial—on the road to Jericho, c. 180 m east of the Lions’ Gate in the Old City.
The excavation was suspended during the first day due to objections raised by the Armenian Patriarchate.
During the course of work that preceded the excavation, the following antiquities were discovered: rock-cuttings in bedrock, a cistern, remains of an ancient wall and a burial cave, whose bottom had only survived, which was located alongside two natural caves. Fragments of pottery vessels dating to the Early and Late Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic periods and the Middle Ages were collected from the fill that covered these remains.