{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-572d6a42.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-f4d0de30.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Archaeologist says he\u0026#39;s found citadel captured by King David in conquest of Jerusalem' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54c380d8eafeecae161c79' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54c380d8eafeecae161c79' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nArchaeologist says he\u0026#39;s found citadel captured by King David in conquest of Jerusalem\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eAn Israeli archaeologist claims he has found the legendary citadel captured by King David in his conquest of Jerusalem, rekindling a longstanding debate about using the Bible as a field guide to identifying ancient ruins. The claim by...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eAn Israeli archaeologist claims he has found the legendary citadel captured by King David in his conquest of Jerusalem, rekindling a longstanding debate about using the Bible as a field guide to identifying ancient ruins. \u003cbr/\u003eThe claim by Eli Shukron is disputed by other archaeologists.\u003cbr/\u003eIt is the latest in a string of announcements by Israeli archaeologists saying they have unearthed palaces of the legendary biblical king, who is revered in Jewish religious tradition for establishing Jerusalem as its central holy city - but who has long eluded historians looking for clear-cut evidence of his existence and reign. \u003cbr/\u003eIt is the latest in a recent string of dramatic claims by Israeli archaeologists of unearthing palaces of the legendary biblical king, who is revered in Jewish religious tradition for establishing Jerusalem as its central holy city - but who has long eluded historians looking for clear-cut evidence of his existence and reign.\u003cbr/\u003eThe sensitive Israeli-Palestinian conflict is also wrapped up into the discussion.\u003cbr/\u003eThe 10 million US Dollar excavation, made accessible to tourists last month, took place in an Arab neighbourhood of Jerusalem and was financed by an organisation that settles Jews in guarded homes in Arab areas of east Jerusalem in an attempt to prevent the city from being divided.\u003cbr/\u003eThe Palestinians claim east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, as the capital of a future independent state. \u003cbr/\u003eShukron, who excavated the Jerusalem citadel at the City of David archaeological site for nearly two decades, said he believed there is strong evidence for his theory. \u003cbr/\u003e\"This is the citadel of King David, this is the Citadel of Zion, and this is what King David took from the Jebusite King,\" said Shukron, who said he recently left Israel's Antiquities Authority to work as a lecturer and tour guide.\u003cbr/\u003eMost archaeologists in Israel do not dispute that King David was an historical figure, and a written reference to the \"House of David\" was found in an archaeological site in northern Israel.\u003cbr/\u003eBut archaeologists are still divided on identifying Davidic sites in Jerusalem, the city he was said to have made his capital. \u003cbr/\u003eShukron's dig, which began in 1995, uncovered a massive fortification of five-ton stones stacked 21 feet (6 metres) wide. \u003cbr/\u003ePottery shards helped date the fortification walls to be 3,800 years old.\u003cbr/\u003eThey are the largest walls found in the region from before the time of King Herod, the ambitious builder who expanded the Second Jewish Temple complex in Jerusalem almost 2,100 years ago.\u003cbr/\u003eThe fortification surrounded a water spring and is thought to have protected the ancient city's water source. \u003cbr/\u003eThe fortification was built 800 years before King David would have captured it from its Jebusite rulers.\u003cbr/\u003eShukron says the story of David's conquest of Jerusalem, as well as another biblical story, provide clues that point to this particular fortification as David's entry point into the city. \u003cbr/\u003eIn the second Book of Samuel, David orders the capture of the walled city by entering it through the water shaft. \u003cbr/\u003eShukron's excavation uncovered a narrow shaft where spring water flowed into a carved pool, thought to be where city inhabitants would gather to draw water.\u003cbr/\u003eExcess water would have flowed out of the walled city through another section of the shaft Shukron said he discovered - where he believes the city was penetrated. \u003cbr/\u003eShukron says no other structure in the area of ancient Jerusalem matches what David would have captured to take the city.\u003cbr/\u003eThe biblical account names it the \"Citadel of David\" and the \"Citadel of Zion\".\u003cbr/\u003eShukron's theory is not shared by the archaeologist who dug with him. \u003cbr/\u003eCritics say that some archaeologists are all too eager to hold a spade in one hand and a bible in the other in a quest to provide the biblical narrative - either due to religious beliefs or for nationalistic reasons to prove the Jewish people's historic ties to the land.\u003cbr/\u003eBut other respected Israeli archaeologists say recent finds match the biblical account more than naysayers claim. \u003cbr/\u003eThe biblical connection to the site is emphasised at the City of David archaeological park, where the citadel excavation has been retrofitted for tourists, including a movie projected on a screen drooped down in front of the fortification to illustrate how it may have looked 3,800 years ago. \u003cbr/\u003e\"We can open up the pages of the Bible and literally they come alive for us from the very stones in this location,\" said Doron Spielman, vice president of the Elad Foundation, which oversees the archaeological park.\u003cbr/\u003eThe City of David is located in east Jerusalem and is now one of the most popular tourist sites in the holy city, with 500,000 tourists visiting last year. \u003cbr/\u003eBut the site has come under criticism because of the non-profit Elad Foundation's nationalistic agenda.\u003cbr/\u003eMost of the foundation's funding comes from private donations from Jews in the US and UK, and its activities include purchasing Arab homes near the excavated areas and then helping Jews move in, sometimes under heavy guard.\u003cbr/\u003eYonathan Mizrachi is the founder and Executive Director of Emek Shaveh, an organisation of archaeologists that is focusing on the role that the excavations have on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\u003cbr/\u003e\"By doing here excavations we are actually supporting the settlers project and the Israeli hold in this village,\" he said.\u003cbr/\u003eCritics say this political agenda should not mix with archaeology. \u003cbr/\u003e1. Tilt of fortification found in excavation  \u003cbr/\u003e2. More of fortification found in excavation \u003cbr/\u003e3. Close of diagram of the ancient fortification \u003cbr/\u003e4. Section of fortification  \u003cbr/\u003e5. Walking shot of Eli Shukron, site archaeologist, going through tunnel \u003cbr/\u003e6. Shukron coming out from tunnel\u003cbr/\u003e7. SOUDNBITE (English) Eli Shukron, excavated the Jerusalem citadel at the City of David archaeological site:\u003cbr/\u003e\"They found the citadel, the citadel around the spring and I believe that that citadel is the citadel of Zion. This is the citadel that King David took from the Jebusite King when he came into the city, into the Jerusalem, into the city of David before 3,000 years.\"\u003cbr/\u003e8. Low view from inside ancient water pool looking up to rest excavation with visitors \u003cbr/\u003e9. Young people going down staircase at site\u003cbr/\u003e10. More fortification found in excavation  \u003cbr/\u003e11. Set up of Doron Spielman, vice president of the City of David Foundation\u003cbr/\u003e12. SOUNDBITE (English) Doron Spielman, Vice President of the City of David Foundation:\u003cbr/\u003e\"For many people the Bible is a dusty book sitting on a shelf in some room in your home. But here we actually see stories of the Bible matching the archaeology in its place. We can open up the pages of the Bible and literally they come alive for us from the very stones in this location.\"\u003cbr/\u003e13. High angle shot looking at ancient pool \u003cbr/\u003e14. Close of opening where pool water used to flow  \u003cbr/\u003e15. Walking shot through tunnel\u003cbr/\u003e16. Panoramic view of Jerusalem's Old City \u003cbr/\u003e17. SOUNDBITE (English) Yonathan Mizrachi, Founder and Executive Director of archaeological activist organisation Emek Shaveh:\u003cbr/\u003e\"Any activity that is taking place here is activity that influenced the political conflict. This is why according to our understanding also the archaeological excavations here are part of the political conflict and actually by doing here excavations we are actually supporting the settlers project and the Israeli hold in this village.\"\u003cbr/\u003e18. City of David, visitors walking\u003cbr/\u003e19. 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