What’s new with ancient Jerusalem?

The Annual City of David Archaeology Conference will reveal the newest research and discoveries on ancient Jerusalem and the City of David.

By LOREN MINSKY/ ITRAVELJERUSALEM.COM TEAM
Annual City of David Archaeology Conference 311 (photo credit: Haim Zach)
Annual City of David Archaeology Conference 311
(photo credit: Haim Zach)
The 12th Annual City of David Archaeology Conference, the largest of its kind in Israel, is set to take place this Thursday at the City of David. This open-air conference is dedicated entirely to current research about Jerusalem and the City of David and will bring together world renowned experts and 1,400 fans of Jerusalem and its antiquities.
The conference takes place in Hebrew but many Anglos are expected to attend. In honor of the event, the excavation sites at the City of David will be open, and conference-goers will be given the rare opportunity to take a peek at the rigorous field work.
The most senior tour guides will give tours of the various sites including the Herodian Road, the hidden tunnel that leads from the City of David up to the Western Wall. A highlight of this year’s conference is the display of the recently discovered golden bell from the Second Temple period.
Top research experts and biblical archaeologists will give in-depth lectures on Jerusalem. Lecturers include Professor Ronny Reich, who has conducted archaeological digs in Jerusalem for the past 40 years, and Professor Finkelstein, an archaeological expert and lecturer at Tel Aviv University.
An academic journal featuring archaeologists and experts who lecture at this year’s conference will be on sale. Visitors can also enjoy browsing the many research books about Jerusalem for sale as well as a wide selection of works by scholars in relevant fields.
The conference began 12 years ago as an initiative of the City of David Visitors Center. In recent years it is conducted and sponsored by Megalim - City of David Institute for Jerusalem studies, who are dedicated to a greater understanding of the history of Jerusalem as it’s now emerging from the ground.
Udi Ragones, spokesman for the City of David, said “We welcome all those who love Jerusalem and archaeology to come and enjoy this interesting conference.”
The Archaeology Conference takes place at the City of David on Thursday September 8th.
Registration for the conference begins at 4:00 p.m. at the entrance to the City of David. Recommended to arrive early as there is no advance registration and space is limited.
Tours start from 4:00 p.m. with the conference convening at 6:00 p.m.
Free of charge.
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