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| Jerusalem ancient walls unveiled | Jerusalem ancient walls unveiled |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Archaeologists in Jerusalem have given a first glimpse of newly-exposed 2,100-year-old walls to the south of the city's ancient heart. | Archaeologists in Jerusalem have given a first glimpse of newly-exposed 2,100-year-old walls to the south of the city's ancient heart. |
| They say the mortarless stone structure is the best preserved section of the city's walls ever seen from the period of the Second Jewish Temple. | They say the mortarless stone structure is the best preserved section of the city's walls ever seen from the period of the Second Jewish Temple. |
| The walls were first located through tunnels by 19th Century researchers, whose beer bottles were also found. | The walls were first located through tunnels by 19th Century researchers, whose beer bottles were also found. |
| The researchers hope to open the site to the public in the next few years. | The researchers hope to open the site to the public in the next few years. |
| "We knew the walls were here somewhere," said Yehiel Zelinger, who has led the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. | "We knew the walls were here somewhere," said Yehiel Zelinger, who has led the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. |
| "The fact that after 2,100 years the remains of the wall were preserved to a height of three meters is amazing," he said. | "The fact that after 2,100 years the remains of the wall were preserved to a height of three meters is amazing," he said. |
| Bliss and Dickie left behind beer bottles and a shoe | Bliss and Dickie left behind beer bottles and a shoe |
| The construction dates from the period of the Second Temple - the 2nd Century BC until the temple's destruction by the Romans in the year 70. | |
| The researchers believe the walls show the ancient city's boundaries when it was at its largest, with a circumference of 6km, compared to the 4km of walling surrounding what is now the Old City. | The researchers believe the walls show the ancient city's boundaries when it was at its largest, with a circumference of 6km, compared to the 4km of walling surrounding what is now the Old City. |
| As well as the detailed maps that helped Mr Zelinger's team locate the walls, the 19th Century archaeologists Frederick Bliss and Archibald Dickie also left behind beer bottles, a gas lamp and an old shoe. | As well as the detailed maps that helped Mr Zelinger's team locate the walls, the 19th Century archaeologists Frederick Bliss and Archibald Dickie also left behind beer bottles, a gas lamp and an old shoe. |
| But they refilled the tunnels they had dug to access their find, and the walls stayed buried until Mr Zelinger's team began excavating 18 months ago. | |
| The researchers also found a range of artefacts from before and after the Second Temple period, including female fertility figures from the early Israelites who, according to the Bible, were prohibited from worshipping idols. | The researchers also found a range of artefacts from before and after the Second Temple period, including female fertility figures from the early Israelites who, according to the Bible, were prohibited from worshipping idols. |
| And, above the ancient walls, they also uncovered a second wall, built 400 years later by the Byzantines. | And, above the ancient walls, they also uncovered a second wall, built 400 years later by the Byzantines. |