We did not participate in the 2014 dig season. It felt so strange not to be there. We are grateful to the 2014 dig team for posting pictures on Facebook!
This is what the site looked like in late 2014, perhaps October or November. "Up" is west, and north is to the right. The Crusader-era wall runs pretty much east-west at this point, and the Zion Gate is just beyond the top of the picture. The Old City is behind the wall on the right; modern Jerusalem is everywhere else. This photo was taken by team member Joel Kramer. We're not sure how he did it!
So much progress was made by the 2014 dig team! Sandbags, placed for erosion control, serve to outline and enhance the individual spaces. What was once a rough, tricky footpath between the wall and the dig now looks safe for senior citizens. We walked that path every day between the Zion Gate and the opening in the site fence at the lower left-hand corner of the photo. This is looking great!
By December 2014 the seasonal rains had brought some green to the site. We're looking east, with the Mount of Olives in the background.
Here's a photo from March 2015, looking west this time. The site is getting a little overgrown. The crenolated city wall on the right is interesting, isn't it? The building with the conical dome is the Dormitian Abbey. To its left is the building that houses the traditional sites of King David's Tomb on the lower level and the "Upper Room" of Jesus' Last Supper on the upper level. The identification of those two sites is still a matter of debate.
From rough trail in 2013 to a paved walkway with easy stairs and a HANDRAIL in 2015! This is fantastic!
Late March 2015 after an exceptionally wet winter. First we look up towards the west.....
... and then look down towards the east.
By late April 2015, the site is completely overgrown. It's easy to understand how the remains of a civilization can get lost when nature takes over. Without intervention, we might have a hard time finding this place in a few years.
The rainy season is over, and things have started to dry up by early June 2015.
And better yet, someone has been pulling weeds and cleaning up the site!
So when the 2015 dig team arrives at the end of this we, excavation can start immediately.
This is good news for us, because
WE ARE GOING BACK TO
DIG MOUNT ZION!
Yahoo! Looking forward to your pets!
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