The Temple Mount Antiquities Salvage Operation

The The Temple Mount Temple Mount

Antiquities Antiquities Salvage Salvage

OperationOperation

Nestled in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, Emek Tzurim in Hebrew, between Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives is perhaps one of the most striking and historically significant archeological projects of the century.

Much of the world questions Biblical validity and the existence of a Jewish first and second commonwealth. Likewise they doubt or deny the existence of the temple of Solomon and the second temple, which was expanded and modified by King Herod about 2000 years ago.

While the scriptures and multiple other sources such as Josephus document their existence, much of the world today chooses to deny their validity and therefore the eternal covenant of The Holy One with this land and people.

In what was a tragic destruction of an area of the Temple Mount to create an enormous underground mosque some years ago, the Islamic waqf in Jerusalem, with no regard for the archeological significance of this material removed tons of remarkable artifacts and dirt from the area called Solomon’s Stables and place this material in a garbage dump.

Over five years ago a stalwart young archeologist, Zachi Zweig, backed by Dr. Gaby Barchai and others in the archeological community, fought desperately to obtain possession of this “garbage” so that artifacts could be retrieved from the material.

Thus in the middle of court battles over unwanted Arab garbage,

began the Temple Mount Antiquities

Salvage Project.

Today this project has grown and advanced to become a wonderful educational tool for the students of Israel as well as thousands of tourists and individuals seeking Biblical truth and authentication for their foundational truths.

This is one of the few locations where visitors can obtain a wonderful introduction to both of the Temples and experience the joy of holding real artifacts in their hands as they participate in the sifting project. Tourist groups are welcome, with prior arrangement, to come and participate in this great adventure.

Here you can stand next to world renowned archeologistsand staff members and

see,touch

& feel the millennial old items which were used in the place which is called

the footstool of the Lord.

Come as we take Come as we take a pictorial a pictorial

adventure in this adventure in this great project.great project.

Model of Herod’s Temple before destruction

Area of destruction in what is called Solomon’s Stables

View on may walk to work from Hebrew University into the Valley of Jehoshaphat below

View of Jerusalem from Hebrew University – WHAT A SIGHT!

At top of Mt. Scopus, behind Hebrew U. and my walk to work looking at Judean Desert and into the mountains ofJordan in the distance.

Closeup of Judean Hills

From the top of the Valley looking down the pathway to the sifting project siteThere are 190 steps and some steep paths down the hill.

Looking up at Hebrew University from below on the path.

View of the Holy City from the Work site. This is from where the Lord will judge the nations.

We now have sheep in the Valley of Judgment already.

The visitors entrance to the site.It is a veritable tabernacle.

Visitor teaching area

Group listening to presentation before their sifting experience.

Piles of “garbage” from Solomon’s stables waiting to be processed.

The process begins with “dry sifting to remove most of the plain dirt from the material. The “sifter basket in the back has a coarse screenBottom and the materials left behind are placed into the “hoppers”In the front and collected in buckets.

Buckets with dirt, rocks, water and HOPEFULLY many artifacts Just waiting for eager hands to sort through them.

A group of young ladiesSorting material in a sifterHoping for a great find.

A young man, student from England carefully looking thruRocks and material sorting out possible artifacts.

Coins found at dig, some ancient some not

Pottery fragments found at site, very ancient

Inscribed pottery found at site, ancient

All significant finds are sorted and collected into bucketsSix categories are Glass, Bone, Metal, Ceramics, Mosaics, Special rocks.Coins and unusual artifacts are handled separately.

To help learn what is significant, the demonstration table has items for comparison.

More items from the Demonstration Table, mosaic stones, plaster & Opus sectile

I mentioned that this week

Was for maintenance. Notice

All the sifting tables are gone

And the bases are gone. The

Drainage trenches are being

Dug out to remove all the dirt

That has been removed over

The past couple years.

Backbreaking work!

Ariel working in the mud trenches

Nothing clean

About this job

Clean trenches and a new base goes down for the sifting trays. Hard work but important if the discoveries are to continue.

Everyone is always worried when I am in Israel. I am not worried At the site, several are armed and quite capable of using them

We live in a bad neighborhood, East Jerusalem – so be ready ALWAYS

The Temple Mount Antiquities Salvage Operation is not under the financial auspices of any university program. The artifacts have been removed from their “in situ” location and therefore from an academic perspective have less value than had the Islamic group not removed them. They are daily finding remarkable artifacts from the first and secondTemples. The are helping to prove Biblical validity. YOU can support these efforts

P.E.F. ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS, INC.317 Madison Avenue, Suite 607New York, NY 10017Phone: 212 599-1260Fax: 212 599-5981Email: pefisrael@aol.com

P.E.F. Israel Endowment Funds, Inc. Date: ________________ Enclosed is my contribution for $__________________ with a recommendation to your trustees that it be used for: Organization/Project:

Sifting the debris from the Temple Mount (Dr. Gabriel Barkay account at Israel Exploration Society, Jerusalem)

ContributorName: ______________________________________________________________

please print

Web site information : http://templemount.wordpress.com

Thank you for coming on my tour of

The Temple Mount

Antiquities Salvage Project.

By RDBFor www.ETBPF.org