Project Maps Ancient Tombstones on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives
Bible and archaeology news
Elad, the Jerusalem-based group that operates the City of David archaeological park, has begun a new initiative to map, photograph and record all of the Jewish tombstones from the Mount of Olives, some of which may date back several millennia. The project, which started in 2008, has so far recorded the location and names from more than 40,000 graves. The team locates the graves using aerial photographs, centuries-old documents describing who is buried where, and by methodically walking through the age-old cemetery of 150,000 graves. “This place has been used for burial since there have been signs of life in Jerusalem,” said Moti Shamis, a member of the mapping team. “The cemetery is a mirror of the city—in wartime, we see more graves. When new groups of Jews reach the city, the names on the graves change.”
Elad, the Jerusalem-based group that operates the City of David archaeological park, has begun a new initiative to map, photograph and record all of the Jewish tombstones from the Mount of Olives, some of which may date back several millennia.
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Correction to the above: The Danish Queen died in 1103.
John Rene Sneevang, Denmark
I am looking forward to you finding the Danish Queen Bodil, who died in Jerusalem in 1003 and is burried on the Mount of OlivesShe was on at a Pilgrimage with her King “Erik Ejegod” who had died on the island of Cypres, where his was burried in the city of Phafos..
Along with the King and Queen some hundred Vikings traveled with them on the vestern Rusian rivers.
John R. Sneevang, Denmark
Concerning the age old tombstones, just how old is the Holy city?. Stated in the article, the tombstones have in place since there was life in the city, so what ages are we suggesting for the city and tombstones?
I’m glad they are making a map…too bad we don’t have one with this article. 🙂
Why not all the tombstones?
This is history, and it involves more than just their own.