In the center of this photo is pictured the area of Jaffa Gate, as depicted on the 6th century mosaic map discovered in Medeba, Jordan. Recent discoveries in Jerusalem reportedly “confirm an ancient map of Jerusalem.” Tomorrow morning a press conference will be held at Jaffa Gate. Until then, you can try to guess what they found. I have my own prediction.
HT: Joe Lauer
The reconstruction of the Hurva Synagogue is progressing. These photos were taken last month. In the first photo, you can see the mountains of Jordan in the distance.
Hurva Synagogue from Herod’s tower (Citadel of David)
Hurva Synagogue from Jewish Quarter plaza 
Hurva synagogue interiorThe collapsed ramp that leads to the Mughrabi Gate of the Temple Mount appears to be no closer to reconstruction. From Arutz-7:
Jordanian pressure is preventing the completion of a walkway to the Temple Mount next to the Western Wall (Kotel), according to Nadav Shragai, senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. The Islamic Historical Society has filed suit in the Jerusalem District Court, demanding a halt to the work on widening the Kotel Plaza and the renovation of the Rambam (Mughrabim) Gate entrance to the Temple Mount. The court is awaiting a reply from the Prime Minister’s Office on the matter. […] The plan for renovating the walkway to the Rambam Gate has been approved, Shragai said, but the government is delaying its implementation. “At first they wanted the bridge to be suspended from support columns,” the veteran former journalist explained, “but environmental groups objected. In the end it was decided that the bridge would be placed on what remains of the [dirt] ramp, in order to avoid damage to houses in the Mughrabim neighborhood. This plan currently has the necessary approvals and all that is needed is a construction permit from the Kotel Heritage Fund which answers to the Prime Minister’s Office. For some reason, because of pressure from the Jordanian government, the government is not granting this permit.”
The full story is here. 
Collapsed ramp (center) and temporary wooden ramp (left). The Mughrabi Gate is just visible at the end of the temporary ramp.
One of the items on my list for this blog was some new photos of the renovations at Jaffa Gate. Tom Powers has beat me to it, however, and done a much better job. He has a number of high-resolution photographs, along with explanations of what you’re seeing (as best as can be determined by an outsider). I have heard through the grapevine that the archaeologists uncovered both ancient and modern aqueducts as well. This makes sense given the location of Jaffa Gate and the nearby presence of the Towers/Hezekiah’s Pool.
Read the post on his Tom’s new blog and subscribe to future posts using the RSS feed.
360 degree views in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – if you didn’t want to stand in the long line to enter the tomb, this gives you a perfect view without the crowds, noise, or fragrances.
360 degree views in the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque – if you’re not Muslim, you can’t stand in a line long enough. One other 360 degree view is the Western Wall, but these photos are less unique. The entry point to all three sites is here.
Ynetnews has a story on renovations of David’s Tomb on Mount Zion.
Leen Ritmeyer’s recent lecture on how he identified the location of Solomon’s Temple is recounted in a story in the Baptist Press.
A sarcophagus cover with a Medusa decoration is the now on display at Caesarea. The IAA press release (temporary link) also has some high-resolution images (direct link).
A hoard of 1,300 silver coins apparently from the Hellenistic period have been discovered in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, announced the Hamas-run “ministry of tourism and antiquities.”
The Museum of Tolerance to be built in the Mamilla neighborhood of Jerusalem will be half the size of the original plan because of reduced sources of funding. Plaintiffs who filed suit against the
construction have lost their case and been fined by the court.
I’ve had little time this month for noting the latest stories. As time permits, I’ll continue to try to catch up.
HT: Joe Lauer and Paleojudaica