Excavations in Jerusalem, 1961-1967

Book excerpt: This fascinating volume continues the publication of the late Dame Kathleen Kenyon's 1961-67 excavations of ancient Jerusalem. Franken and Steiner provide full descriptions of the stratigraphy, architecture, and objects recovered from eight phases dating between the ninth and early sixth centuries B.C., carefully analyzing their ceramic sequence and various manufacturing techniques. In addition, the book offers commentaries on the practices of both ancient and modern Jerusalem potters that illuminate the social, religious, and economic life of the quarter, and that trace the progressive decline of the quarter to its final abandonment c. 700 B.C. when a new city wall system was built over it.