Please Note: During 2011 we are continuing to process finds and artifacts from previous years at our Mt Zion Excavation (2007-2009) as well as the recently found materials, now in the custody of Dr. Shimon Gibson, that relate to both our site and the excavations Gibson conducted with Magen Broshi in the 1970s.
This summer Professors James D. Tabor and Shimon Gibson will direct a two-week archaeological expedition (June 10-25) at the historic location of Kibbutz Tzuba, an ancient Israelite town just west of the city of Jerusalem. In the year 2000 a mysterious cave was discovered there by Professor Gibson who invited Professor Tabor and a group of UNC Charlotte students to join him in initial excavations (2001-2005). This cave, now known as the "Cave of John the Baptist," turned out to have direct associations with John the Baptist, who grew up in the nearby town of Ein Kerem, providing us with our earliest evidence of baptismal rites. Cryptic drawings of John the Baptist and his life and work are carved on its walls. Nearby is the first ancient winepress dating to the time of Jesus that has ever been found in Israel.
The two week expedition will involve further excavations at the Cave of John the Baptist as well as uncovering the winepress and its adjacent caves. Both are located on the agricultural land of Kibbutz Tzuba, a strikingly beautiful area outside Jerusalem. Participants will stay on the Kibbutz in the hotel guesthouse with room and board included. This two week experience is run as a field school with classes, lectures, and tools provided. No prior archaeological experience is required. A weekend tour, guided by Professor Tabor, of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, including Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found as well as Masada, is included. Full information on costs, dates, and registration is at: http://www.edabroad.uncc.edu/tzuba/
Please direct any questions to Dr. James D. Tabor at jdtabor@uncc.edu
Our Mt Zion excavation site is just outside the present Old City wall, along the road between the Zion Gate and the Dung Gate, but in Romantimes it was well inside the walls of the ancient city of Jerusalem.Nearby are many important places in the history of Jerusalem, namelythe Praetorium where Jesus was tried before Pontius Pilate, and theHouse of Caiaphas and the other priestly families in the Upper City ofJerusalem in the first century C.E. In the Byzantine period, the areawas situated at the southern end of the Cardo Maximus, which was agrand columned street and in its vicinity Justinian (mid sixth century)built a very large church (the Nea). The summit of Mount Zion was afocus for the building of houses in the Early Islamic Period. TheCrusaders and the Ayyubids built their fortifications across the crestof the hill, and in the early 13th century, the local Sultan destroyedthe gate-tower, which was located in the area of our excavation.
Congratulations to Melissa Fleischer, one of our 2009 diggers and a M.A. student at UNC Charlotte, who is on the cover of the January/February Biblical Archaeology Review magazine highlighting both our Mt Zion dig and the wonderful team members who join us each season.
A unique ten-line inscription on the side of a stone cup commonly used for ritual purity during the first century CE was uncovered during the 2009 season of excavations. Inscriptions of this kind are extremely rare and only a handful has been found in scientific excavations made within the city. This new inscription is presently being deciphered by epigraphic experts in an effort to determine the meaning of the text, which is clear but cryptic. The dig also produced a sequence of building remains dating from the history of Jerusalem, from the First and Second Temple periods through to Byzantine and Early Islamic periods.
A house complex from the Second Temple period with an mikve (purification pool) with a remarkably well preserved vaulted ceiling was uncovered during this season. Inside this house were three bread ovens with a level of burning dating from the year 70 CE when Titus and the Roman troops stormed the city. We think that this area of the Upper City of Jerusalem served as the priestly quarter of Jerusalem during Second Temple times. In support of this were interesting finds including an ornate window screen made of stone. Ten murex shells were also found and these were used for producing the argaman dye which was used for the coloring of the priestly vestments at that time.
In addition, a large arched building with a mosaic floor (preserved to a height of 3 metres) from the Byzantine period was also uncovered; perhaps it is part of a building complex or street associated with the nearby Church of St Mary (the Nea).
Many coins, pottery, and stone artifacts were among the finds. Please visit our website again soon for more images and reports of last month's dig.
Congratulations to Melissa Fleischer, one of our 2009 diggers and a M.A. student at UNC Charlotte, who is on the cover of the January/February Biblical Archaeology Review magazine highlighting both our Mt Zion dig and the wonderful team members who join us each season. 
A unique ten-line inscription on the side of a stone cup commonly used for ritual purity during the first century CE was uncovered during the 2009 season of excavations. Inscriptions of this kind are extremely rare and only a handful has been found in scientific excavations made within the city. This new inscription is presently being deciphered by epigraphic experts in an effort to determine the meaning of the text, which is clear but cryptic. The dig also produced a sequence of building remains dating from the history of Jerusalem, from the First and Second Temple periods through to Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. 