Assyrians, Babylonians, and the City Wall of Jerusalem

This lecture examines recent excavations on the eastern slope of Jerusalem's Southeastern Hill (City of David), which have revealed two new sections of a fortification wall dating to the 8th century BCE. These findings provide definitive evidence of the city's fortified status during this period and allow for a more precise dating of its construction. Furthermore, the discovery of a glacis (a sloped defensive embankment) built roughly a century later highlights the ongoing development of Jerusalem's defenses. These architectural remains are situated within the broader geopolitical context of the Ancient Near East between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE, reflecting the impact of the Assyrian and Babylonian expansions into the Southern Levant.

Dr. Filip Vukosavović is an archaeologist and Director of the Publications Department at the Israel Antiquities Authority. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of 'Atiqot, the scholarly journal of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

His archaeological work includes research and excavations in Jerusalem, particularly in the City of David. He has directed and co-directed archaeological excavations on the eastern slope of the City of David and has published research concerning Jerusalem's fortifications, material culture, inscriptions, and archaeological evidence from the Iron Age and later periods.

His research engages with the archaeology of ancient Jerusalem, the Kingdom of Judah, Assyrian influence, urban fortifications, inscriptions and seals, and the relationship between archaeological evidence and historical sources.

In July 2026, new scientific results were publicly announced concerning a monumental ancient dam at the Siloam Pool in the City of David, Jerusalem. A joint study by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Weizmann Institute of Science dated the massive structure to approximately 805–795 BCE, during the reigns of the Judean kings Joash or Amaziah.

Dr. Filip Vukosavović was one of the excavation directors responsible for the discovery, together with Dr. Nahshon Szanton and Itamar Berko. The finding provides important new evidence for large-scale water management and urban planning in Jerusalem during the First Temple period.

City of David — The Largest Dam in Ancient Israel Was Uncovered in the City of David