Abstract
While the walls of ancient Jerusalem constitute a major subject in archaeological research, the city walls constructed in the Middle Ages (1099‒1250 CE) received only little attention. This is especially true regarding the walls in the eastern part of the city, extending from the Lion’s Gate to the northeastern corner of the city. Recent excavations along the Ottoman city wall exposed remarkable remains of fortifications dating to the twelfth century CE. These include a wide wall (preserved 4 m high), a moat and two projecting towers with small gateways that led from the moat into the city. The fortifications were constructed from hewn stones, some of which exhibit fine diagonal chiseling and masons’ marks, which are characteristic of Frankish architecture. Who initiated these fortifications? Were they constructed by the Crusaders, or was it a project of Saladin? This paper discusses these questions and presents our interpretation of the finds and their dating. Also, several other remains of contemporary fortifications are mentioned, shedding new light on one of the most obscure periods in the history of Jerusalem’s city walls.
Recommended Citation
Re’em, Amit; Chernin, Michael; Yeger, David; Regev, Johanna; and Boaretto, Elisabetta
(2022)
"بين الصليبيين والأيوبيين: اكتشافات جديدة على طول الأسوار الشرقية لمدينة القدس / The Medieval City Walls of Jerusalem: New Discoveries,"
Cornerstone: Journal of Archaeological Sites (حجر الزاوية): Vol. 10, Article 50.
Available at:
https://publications.iaa.org.il/cornerstone/vol10/iss1/50
