Description
In the excavations of Yigal Shiloh, which took place between 1978-’84, this area was part of “Area G” which became known internationally due to the harassment of the diggers by Ultra Orthodox Jews who believed that tombs in the area were being desecrated.
This rare picture was taken during the time when excavations were halted. The excavators placed a plaque in the form of two stone tablets (visible near the centre of the picture) on the stepped stone structure that may have served as a foundation of David’s Palace. The Hebrew writing on the plaque is a satire on Ultra-Orthodox Jewish opposition to the dig and reads: “Thou shalt not dig; thou shalt not investigate; thou shalt not know, for I, the Rabbinate, have brought you out of the land of the Law.”