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The Ophel Archaeological Park - Davidson Exhibition and Virtual Reconstruction Center
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Owned by JQDC, the Ophel Archeological
Park is located below the southern wall of the Temple Mount.
On display are thrilling remnants of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period.
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In the area known as the Ophel, the visitor can ascend the ancient
stairway to the Hulda Gates that led to the Temple Mount. This area, south of the
Temple Mount, is studded with dozens of Mikvaot (ritual baths) which were at the
disposal of visitors to the Temple Mount, enabling them to cleanse themselves before
entering. A large pile of heavy rocks is found at the southern tip of the Western
Wall, above the Herodian street, next to the shops. These are the original stones
of the Western Wall, a reminder of the Hurban (destruction). An arch stretched across
the street, part of a huge staircase which was used by thousands of pilgrims to
access the Temple Mount, the oldest crossroads in Jerusalem. The remnants of the
arch are known as Robinson's Arch, after Edward Robinson, the famous explorer who
first identified it in 1852.
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Findings from previous excavations in the vicinity of the Temple
Mount are on display at the entrance to the site.. Special activities are held here
during holidays and festivals and it is also possible to stage events at the site.
Remains of buildings from the First Temple period, the Hasmonean period and the
Byzantine period, remnants of palaces built by the Umayyad Caliphate during the
early Moslem era, a huge tower built by the Fatimid Caliphate which was later renovated
by the Crusaders, the Ayyubids and the Mameluks.
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The Davidson Center
The Davidson Center is located inside the archeological park. This is one of the
most modern tourism complexes in the world, incorporating archeological content,
computers, and cutting-edge visual instructive methods. The center is a series of
galleries, which create the feeling of time travel as they lead the visitor down
a series of winding ramps to the subterranean vaults of an Umayyad palace. The gradual
descent allows visitors to experience the ancient eras through the changing layers
of stone of the ancient building while watching the unique multimedia presentation.
The archeological findings on display clarify 2000 years of history for the visitor:
The Second Temple period, the Roman period, the Byzantine period and the Umayyad
period. In the Center is an interactive model of the Temple Mount as it was in all
its magnificence during the Second Temple period. The model is controlled by a super-computer
and is operated by the center's guides.
A series of videos that tell the story of the excavations in the site and the surroundings
are also screened. The documentary “Excavation Diary” documents 150 years of excavations
in the vicinity of the Temple Mount. It is arranged in diary format and is presented
by the head of the excavation project, Prof. Ronny Reich. The 4-minute video tells
the story of the researchers and of the excavators, and the discoveries made by
each. Another video tells the story of the pilgrims, illustrating the experience
of pilgrimage during the Second Temple period, and was produced using High Definition
technology.
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The Site List
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