Continuing the legacy…

“Since 1867, many archaeological excavations have been conducted in Jerusalem, representing many countries and institutions. The most recent endeavor, before our present excavation, was in 1961 when the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, under the direction of well-known archaeologist Miss Kathleen Kenyon, began small scale trench method excavations of the Southern Wall area and the City of David. The work revealed, near the Temple Mount, a small section of pavement, a portion of a large building, and a column. Later an additional trial dig was started near the southeast corner but was soon discontinued due to pressure from local authorities. 

Then in 1967, after the unification of Jerusalem, the archaeological institutions of Israel began considering the feasibility of a full-scale excavation of the entire Southern Wall area. With encouragement by the mayor of Jerusalem and the Israel Exploration Society, the present ‘Big Dig’ was launched in 1968, headed by Professor Binyamin Mazar….In the first winter recess, Ambassador College entered into the project jointly with Hebrew University and the Department of Antiquities. Beginning December of 1968, Ambassador began providing financial assistance to put the project on a full-time continuous basis, and in 1969 began to provide summertime student manpower. Work has continued unbroken since that time.” (John E. Portune “On the ‘Big Dig’ in Jerusalem” The Good News of Tomorrow’s World, Oct. 1971) 

       “Down in the holes digging is underway. In each of the areas some wield the picks and shovels. Behind them others fill the rubber buckets with the material dug free, Still others use brushes and small trowels to clean the building stones. As each full bucket is tossed or hoisted to the top, it is dumped into a rectangular sifting frame fitted over a wheelbarrow. After vigorous shaking, eager hands search the remains for the occasional intact pottery handle, the glint of a piece of glass or the telltale blue-green colour of a corroded coin. Finding Such long-lost artifacts generates a sense of excitement and provides information the experts need in dating the layers through which we dig.”

.   .   .

“In maintaining its policy of seeking truth and knowledge of both the past and future, Ambassador College maintains an agreessive Scientific Research and Exploration Program…The project encompasses the south and west walls of the Temple Mount extending from the region of the Al Aksa Mosque to the ancient City of David. For the first time since the destruction of the old city of Jerusalem at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, nearly 3,000 years of history are being rolled back to reveal a most important part of the past.”

.    .    .

“More than 250 volunteers from Israel and from abroad—including students from Ambassador College, Pasadena, California—have helped uncover hitherto unknown
evidence of the city in the time of David and his son Solomon. Dr. Yigal Shiloh, of the Institute of Archaeology at Hebrew University, directs the work.

PDFs

“The Big Dig,” The Good News of Tomorrow’s World, 1971

Scientific Research and Exploration, Ambassador College Envoy, 1969

“Uncovering the City of David,”  The Plain Truth, 1981

Uncovering 5,000 Year of History, Ambassador College Envoy, 1983

Jerusalem Dig, Ambassador College Envoy, 1984