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Area G in Jerusalem is an area of huge archaeological and historical importance. The area better known for the City of David was under the observation of the archaeologists for over a century. Charles Warren was the first to carry on the expedition in the 1860s and then Kathleen Kenyon captained another archaeological mission after another hundred years at Area G in Jerusalem. However, the credit of carrying on the most thorough expedition at Area G in Jerusalem goes to Israeli archaeologist Yigal Shiloh from 1978 to 1985. He was the first to confirm that the angular pieces that were excavated from this place were actually remnants of the First Wall, constructed in the 2nd century BC. This was given the name ‘First Wall’ by Josephus Flavius. Remnants of buildings from the First Temple period were also unearthed from this place. The most important among these being, the stepped stone structure, which was probably used as a pillar for the fortress of David and the kings of Judah. According to the archaeologists, the structure, famously known as ‘miloh’, built by David, was a group of stone walls with a filling of earth and stones in the center and this formed the terraces where in the 7th century the houses of the City of David, were built.
The most interesting excavated items found in Area G in Jerusalem are however, the 51 ‘bullae’. These are clay seals which were used in the documents with the name of the person engraved on them in Hebrew. Since they were all discovered in a particular room, therefore the archaeologists came to the conclusion that the room housed either an archive or a royal office. That their belief was well-founded was proved when in one of the seals the biblical name Gemariah ben Shafan was found engraved. He was the royal secretary of Jeremiah. At Area G in Jerusalem many houses were built upon these stone foundations during the end of the First Temple period, but according to historians, all these were destroyed during the invasion of the Babylonians in 586 BC.
The archaeologists also believe that here was the Fortress of Zion, where David brought the Ark of the Covenant from Kiryat Ya'arim.
Area G in Jerusalem is therefore an interesting sight-seeing spot for all the lovers of history.
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