Seated high above the modern city of Jerusalem is the ancient site of Ramat Rahel

Seated high above the modern city of Jerusalem is the ancient site of Ramat Rahel. Over the last fifty years many have realized that this seemingly natural hill holds within it many secrets that only the archaeological spade can reveal. Excavation carried out at this hill had uncovered the story of a palatial center surrounded by a garden and built at the time of the kings of Judah and during the time the return from exile. Another story embedded within its soil relates to a Jewish community that lived here during the days of the Second Temple until its destruction in the great rebellion (ca. 70 C.E.). Last but not least, the site reveals the story of a Christian monastery and a church built half way between the two holy cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. All of these stories were however forgotten. If it were not for the work of hundreds of people from all over the world who voluntarily gave of their time and money to unearth these stories, we would never have known them. The more material evidence we recover, the more we realize that there are still many secrets awaiting us.