Two mikvah purification baths located next each other in Area B were cleared off in October, along with a third that was discovered in Area A. Another especially large bath located on the site is 10 by 10 meters. It is the only purification bath known of that is above ground.
In October, the diggers discovered a fragment of a large architectural decoration from the Herodian period while excavating the ruins of a Byzantine tower.
In this mid-October update, diggers sing songs while excavating, Herbert W. Armstrong College chancellor Gerald Flurry visits the dig site, and an ancient Egyptian idol, Bes, is found.
By popular demand, here is a captioned list of all the AC diggers with some of the dig site staff pictured in one of our group photos:
Back row, from left to right: Area supervisor to Area B Brent Nagtegaal, Vienna Flurry, Callum Wood, Harley Breth, Douglas Culpepper, Tyrel Schlote, Stephen Flurry.
Middle row, from left to right: Bailey Crawford, Laskey Hart, Monica Antonio, archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar, Autumn Krueger, Gabrielle Haddad, Amy Flurry, general assistant Mendi, assistant area supervisor to Area A Tzachi Lang.
Front row, from left to right: Christopher Eames, Sarah Patten, Michelle Cuenco, Elizabeth Blondeau, Jessie Hester, Jude Flurry.
Not pictured: Area supervisor to Area A Amir Cohen-Klonymous, assistant area supervisor to Area B Margo, Dr. Mazar’s excavation assistant Ariel, dig site photographer Ryan Friesen, AC dig volunteer Rachel Dattolo.
On September 30, 2012, just before the holiday of sukkot, Eilat Mazar welcomed volunteers and guests of the Ophel dig to tour her Jerusalem excavation sites.
Follow Herbert W. Armstrong College students as they experience a typical day on the Ophel Excavation.