and completed in 1978. The area flanks the southern wall and part of the western boundary of the Temple Mount/Haram Al-Sharif. The excavations of the Jewish Quarter were run by Nahman Avigad from 1969-1982. Both were academically sponsored by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. While excavations in the “Ophel” were concentrated in a single, extended site, those in the Jewish Quarter took place in a great number of sites dispersed throughout the area. The third largest archaeological site is that of the Tower of David, contiguous to the Jaffa gate. This site was dug several times over the 20th century.5 Most of the structures in the Old City were built in the last few centuries over older layers. Immediately after the 1967 Six-Day-War, the Old City was declared an antiquities site, so that any building activity, even enlarging a doorway, entails obtaining permits from the Antiquities Authority.6 Consequently, the IAA is involved in all development and building work there. The IAA runs dozens of excavations in the historic basin of Jerusalem’s Old City, from short salvage excavations that last only a few days to extensive digs carried out over several years. Over the years, the IAA (and the Antiquities Department before it) carried out a great many digs for development and building purposes, in both private homes and shops and public structures. Digs in the Knights Halls in the Christian Quarter or the Latin Patriarchate are one example.7 Many digs were performed after residents damaged the antiquities. In general, these sites are not open to the public, and sometimes the majority of remnants were removed so the sites could be developed. These salvage excavations are essential for ongoing life in the Old City, and in order to adapt the city to changing needs such as new construction for the growing population, tourism development etc. Under the Antiquities Authority Law, such excavations are performed throughout Israel, not only in Jerusalem’s historical basin. Western Wall plaza excavations 2005-2009
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