A newly exposed stepped structure of large stone blocks on an ancient street in Jerusalem may have been a platform for public announcements, the Israel Antiques Authority said on Monday.
The pyramid-shaped, finely hewn piece of masonry was uncovered on a 2,000-year-old street that led from the Siloam Pool up to the Temple Mount, where the Second Temple stood at the time.
Archaeologists Nahshon Szanton and Joe Uziel, who are leading the dig, said in a statement that the exact purpose of the raised podium was unclear as no similar dais has been found in previous excavations.
“The structure exposed is unique,” the statement said. “Its exact use remains enigmatic. The structure is built along the street in a place that is clearly visible from afar by passersby making their way to the Temple. We believe the structure was a kind of monumental podium that attracted the public’s attention when walking on the city’s main street.”
Ancient rabbinical sources say stone assemblies were used for public announcements in biblical times, and the Talmud intriguingly mentions a “Claims Stone” in Jerusalem where lost and found-related transactions took place.
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