Weill's Excavations 2

Weill

View looking east on to a large portion of the excavations of Raymond Weill near the southern tip of the City of David (1913 to 1914).  This area of the City of David was subject to much quarrying after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Romans.  Weill estimated that in some places 10 ft. of limestone had been quarried away!

This is the area where some, Weill, Shanks, and Zorn, believe the Tombs of the Kings of Judah were located.


The Bible says that the kings of Judah, from David to Ahaz (d. 732 BC) were buried in the City of David.  Some supposed that the unusual underground route of "Hezekiah's Tunnel" avoided passing under these "tombs."  This identification is questioned by many, but any firm alternatives are lacking.

In the upper-right portion of the photograph are the buildings of the Arab neighborhood of Silwan—much of which is on the east side of the Kidron Valley.


Zorn, Jeffrey R. “Is T1 David's Tomb?” Biblical Archaeology Review 38, no. 6 (November/December, 2012): 44–52, 78.

Shanks, Hershel. “Is This King David's Tomb?” Biblical Archaeology Review 21, no. 1 (January/February, 1995): 62–67.