Having arrived in Jerusalem we are once more reminded of the pairing of ancient history and modernity.

Near the Jaffa Gate (not far from the Mt. Zion Dig) you can see the old and the new together.

Ancient walls built on top of the foundations of the city walls of Jerusalem in the first century stand as a testimony to the endurance of the past.

Just a few hundred feet away, down a flight of steps, is the Mamila Mall, a modern pedestrian shopping experience that would stand up to any high end mall in the developed world. It is a testimony to the inevitable desire of the present to insert itself alongside the past. 

We see ancient shops updated with modern conveniences and modern shops designed to look ancient.

Being clear about which is which — sorting through the layers of time — is sometimes difficult. But in archeology you peel away one layer at a time, carefully distinguishing between modern overlays and ancient foundations.  

That’s what we look forward to in the days to come.