Israeli Archeologist Says Herod Didn’t Complete Western Wall
Recent excavations near Jerusalem’s Temple Mount confirm that its Western Wall, a holy spot for Jews, was not completed until after the death of the Roman-era ruler Herod who is often credited as its builder, an Israeli archeologist said today.
Coins dating from over a decade after Herod’s death in 4 C.E. were unearthed in recent months from a layer beneath the wall, according to Ronny Reich, who is overseeing the excavations. Reich told reporters in Jerusalem the find sheds new light on the timeline of the construction of the Mount, which Muslims refer to as Haram Sharif or Noble Sanctuary.
To contact the reporter on this story: Calev Ben-David in Jerusalem at cbendavid@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Alisa Odenheimer at aodenheimer@bloomberg.net
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