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.
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.
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.
A legal attempt to stop the Temple Mount destruction was met with more governmental corruption today. A five-minute video by Arutz-7 describes how the court chose to meet behind closed doors without allowing the participation of the plaintiffs. If there’s a case for allowing Muslim destruction of Jewish antiquities, it should be made publicly and not hidden behind the skirts of political cowards.
UPDATE (9/21): The Jerusalem Post has a written version of the story here. Key quotation:
“It is more than clear that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has instructed the Antiquities Authority to cooperate with the Wakf and conceal the damage to antiquities being done during the infrastructure work at the site,” said Hebrew University archeologist and leading Temple Mount expert Dr. Eilat Mazar.
The Biblical Archaeology Society has some new photos from the Temple Mount Excavation Destruction. It’s not unbelievable that the Muslim authorities of the Temple Mount would do this; it’s unbelievable that the Israelis would allow it.
A couple of Jerusalem archaeologists have audio interviews/conference calls online. A 34-minute conference call with Gabriel Barkay is at www.onejerusalem.org. Eilat Mazar is interviewed by Arutz-7 (direct link here; doesn’t seem to work in Firefox; 15 min. long).
On another subject, Ehud Netzer talks about his discovery of Herod’s tomb here (audio version here).