75 The Seen and the Unseen Beneath Jaffa Gate

A project initiated by the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, the Jerusalem Municipality, the Jerusalem Development Authority, and the Israel Antiquities Authority

A glimpse of the Jaffa Gate Archaeological Garden project that is located beneath Jaffa Gate. The tour will be led by Eilat Lieber, the Director and Chief Curator of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum.

She will recount the story surrounding the discovery of the site during archaeological excavations of the Israel Antiquities Authority, carried out from 1989 to 1995 in preparation for the Mamilla project. She will also talk about the impressive findings that were unearthed there, including a section of an ancient aqueduct that was in use until the 20^th century, and a bath house and commercial streets from the Byzantine period.  A section of the city wall dating back to the Ayyubid period (13^th century) was also uncovered, which predated the Ottoman wall that still exists today.

Additionally, Lieber will present the construction and renewal plans for the compound. It is slated to house the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum’s state-of-the-art education center, as well as a public archaeological park that will connect the city center with the new entrance to the museum via an underground passageway.