Robinson's Arch

Welcome, traveler, to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, commonly known today as the Davidson Center. We stand just inside the Dung Gate, at the threshold of one of the most significant and thoroughly excavated historical sites…

We have now reached the bedrock of history, standing upon the original Herodian street that runs parallel to the towering Western Wall. This thoroughfare was the primary commercial and pedestrian artery of ancient Jerusalem. …

Directly above us, protruding dramatically from the sheer face of the Western Wall, you will see a jagged, curved row of massive stones. This is the remnant of the architectural marvel that gives this entire area its modern name:…

Let us step closer to the massive, fifteen-meter-long foundation base that once supported the great arch. As we examine this huge stone structure, you will notice distinct rectangular spaces carved directly into its base. …

We now move to the extreme southwest corner of the Temple Mount retaining walls, a location of profound historical and religious significance. Look high up to the very top edge of the corner, where the western and southern walls…

As we step slightly away from the wall, your path is intentionally blocked by a chaotic, mountainous pile of massive limestone blocks. The archaeologists made a deliberate, poignant decision not to clear this specific section of…

We now leave the Herodian street and move eastward along the southern wall, entering an area known archaeologically as the Ophel. The Hebrew word Ophel means to ascend or to climb, and this sloping topographical saddle served as…

We arrive now at the climax of the pilgrim's journey, the monumental Southern Stairs, historically referred to as the Rabbi Stairs. These are the original, chiseled stone steps that led directly up to the Hulda Gates, the primary…

As our journey through the Jerusalem Archaeological Park draws to a close, let us pause here at the top of the southern excavations and turn our gaze outward. To our left rises the majestic Mount of Olives, its slopes blanketed…