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ABC has some photos of the quarry, or you can watch a two-minute video with relatively poor footage of the site (and two guys who can’t correctly pronounce the object of the discovery). 

BiblePlaces.com has some exclusive photos of the quarry area, with thanks to Aubrey Laughlin for sharing them with us.  Click on each photo for a higher-resolution version, which you are free to use for personal and educational purposes.

Herodian quarry, al092407516sr
General view showing how the ancients cut away the mountain
Herodian quarry from north, al092407543sr
View showing the proximity of the quarry to Ramat Shlomo
Herodian quarry, al092407541sr
Showing a cross-section of the mountain and Jerusalem in the distance
Herodian quarry, al092407527sr
Notice the trenches cut in the rock in the foreground
 Herodian quarry, al092407550sr
A view showing where quarrying activity ended.
  
Herodian quarry, al092407555sr 
You can easily see where the rocks were extracted
Herodian quarry, al092407538sr
A trench made in order to extract the stone
Next challenge: Identify the stones removed from this quarry (bonus points if you can put each one back in its original location!).
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I have been asked where exactly the quarry was located.  Here are two maps from Google Earth that show the area of the quarry, about 2 miles (3 km) north of the Old City.  You can click on each for a larger view.

jerusalem_quarry
General view.  Note the highway to the east of the quarry is similar to the ancient route (known sometimes as the Central Ridge Route or the Road of the Patriarchs).
jerusalem_quarry2
Closer view, which will be helpful if you’re in the neighborhood and want to see it yourself.
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It seems like it has been years that rumor has been circulating that a fifth “update” volume is due out for the New Encyclopedia of neaehArchaeological Excavations in the Holy Land (NEAEH). 

Word  from the Israel Exploration Society today is that the volume “will not be released before the beginning of next year.”  I guess that means that it can be anytime after January 2008.  Which guarantees that it will need a significant update by the time it first appears.  That’s true for many published and delayed works, but especially true in the archaeology of Israel.  (You can still get the four-volume set at Eisenbrauns for the great price of $150).

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Haaretz reports:

Jordan will allocate 1.113 million Jordanian Dinars ($1.5 million dollars) to the Jordan Hashemite Fund for the Reconstruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, King Abdullah II announced yesterday during a meeting of the trustees of the new fund… The fund will pay for a new fire detection system that will be installed in the complex of mosques, as well as a modern fire suppression system. In addition, the fund will acquire a fire truck that will be stationed near the Al-Aqsa Mosque. A team in charge of preserving mosaics and antiquities will also undergo further training at the expense of the new fund. Jordan’s decision to intensify its role in the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex stems in part from the presence of other Arab interest groups that have made increasing inroads there.

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Archaeologists in Jerusalem have made a significant discovery of one of the quarries used in the construction of Herod’s Temple Mount.  Located 3 miles (4 km) northwest of the Old City, the 1.25-acre quarry has remains of massive stones measuring 9-25 feet (3-8 m) long, comparable to the stones visible in the Western Wall today.  The quarry is located near the main road coming from the north and at an elevation that is 250 feet (80 m) higher than the Temple Mount, making it an ideal location for quarrying activity.  Coins and pottery found in the quarry help to secure the date of its use to the 1st century B.C.  The story is carried by the Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, and Arutz-7.

Photo below: Another quarry that many believe was used by Herod’s crews is the so-called “Solomon’s Quarries,” near the Damascus Gate of the Old City.

Solomon's Quarries, tb051706274
“Solomon’s Quarries”
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If you’re a college professor or other tour group leader, you might be interested in this familiarization tour to Turkey in March.  This came via Mark Wilson, who has led two college/seminary groups this year that I recommended.  Both were delighted with their trips.  It’s not clear to me if he is apart of this trip or not, but here are the details they sent:

Dear Professors, Colleagues, and Group Leaders, We are currently taking sign ups for the MARCH 7-15, 2008 FAM. TRIP! The March familiarization trip is for professors who are bringing or would like to bring a group to Turkey and want to come beforehand to do the tour. This is very limited space because of the special price.  The professor price of $1,095 is land, airfare & tax inclusive, based on double occupancy, with airfare from New York, JFK. The cost of a single room is $1,390 per person. Please ask for our spouse rate. Participants of this trip are responsible for their own transport to and from JFK. If you are interested in signing up for this trip please contact me for further details. We are also exciting for Tutku Tours’ Newest programs; January Trips, Study Abroad Programs and of course our Ephesus Meeting May 2008, www.ephesusmeeting.com in which we will have many wonderful groups and fascinating speakers.  We customize all of our groups’ itineraries to fit their needs. Please ask for any brochures or further details. We hope to meet you AT OUR BOOTH in San Diego, November 14-16, at ETS (booth #216), and November 17-20, at AAR & SBL, (booth #737).  We will also be offering additional meetings slide show presentations, The Seven Churches, and the Footsteps of St. Paul in Asia Minor.  ETS additional meeting, date and time will be announced and the SBL additional meeting is Sunday, November 18 from 4:00- 6:30 pm.  We look forward to discussing your future plans for travel in Turkey, as well as our other destinations Greece, Israel, Egypt, Ukraine, and Northern Cypress. Attached, you will find the inaugural issue of the latest news of Biblical Turkey, in the ‘Asia Minor Report’ newsletter, put together by Dr. Mark Wilson. We hope it is of interest to all of the scholars that we work with! We have great references from other college and university groups, which we would be happy to share with you! Please let me know if I can help answer any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you and your groups here in 2008!

Best Regards,
Erin Dailey
Director of Operations
Ephesus Meeting
www.ephesusmeeting.com Tutku Tours
www.tutkutours.com

After a trip to Israel, Turkey is the place to go.  You need more than a week, but this is just the familiarization trip to get you to come back for a longer time with a lot of people.

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