Conference Presentation
Iron Age Destructions in Jerusalem: Archaeological Evidence, Written Sources, and a Brief Look at New Discoveries in 2026
Dr. Joe Uziel
Series Editor, IAA Reports
Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA)
Israel
Presentation Date & Time
Sunday, 8 November 2026
14:00 CET (Serbia time)
Conference
New Discoveries and New Directions in Biblical, Hebrew, and Theological Studies
European Hebrew Journal International Online Conference
Format
Live online via Zoom
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Abstract
When reconstructing Jerusalem's past, one cannot help but consider the destructions described in detail in written sources. The archaeological record, however, tells a somewhat different story, particularly for the biblical periods, where the destruction layers exposed thus far are relatively limited, especially in comparison with neighboring sites.
This lecture will present recent discoveries from excavations in Jerusalem that have yielded important information regarding destructive events, focusing on new discoveries and methods that have shed new light on how archaeologists reconstruct Jerusalem's history, from the establishment of the Davidic Dynasty until the Babylonian destruction in 586 BCE.
About Dr. Joe Uziel
Dr. Joe Uziel is Series Editor of IAA Reports at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). He is an archaeologist whose research has focused extensively on Jerusalem and the archaeology of the southern Levant.
He received his PhD from Bar-Ilan University in 2008 and has been involved in archaeological research and excavation with the Israel Antiquities Authority for many years. His fieldwork has included major excavations in the City of David, the Western Wall area, and beneath Wilson's Arch.
His research on Jerusalem has addressed the city's development across multiple historical periods, with particular emphasis on the Bronze and Iron Ages, the archaeology of the Kingdom of Judah, First Temple-period Jerusalem, and the Roman period. His work combines archaeological stratigraphy, material culture, written evidence, and increasingly scientific approaches to the chronology and reconstruction of ancient Jerusalem.
Uziel has contributed to research on significant archaeological discoveries in Jerusalem, including First Temple-period administrative sealings, ancient inscriptions, fortifications, destruction layers, and evidence concerning the development and expansion of the city.
Education & Academic Formation
PhD
Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology
Bar-Ilan University, 2008
Dissertation: The Southern Coastal Plain of Canaan during the Middle Bronze Age
Advisor: Dr. Aren Maeir
MA
Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology
Bar-Ilan University, 2002
Thesis: Tell es-Safi Archaeological Survey
BA
Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology
Bar-Ilan University, 1998
Professional Experience
Series Editor, IAA Reports
Israel Antiquities Authority
Archaeologist, Jerusalem District
Israel Antiquities Authority
2011–2019
During this period, Uziel directed and participated in major excavations in Jerusalem, including work in the City of David and beneath Wilson's Arch in the Western Wall area.
Research Expertise — Dr. Joe Uziel
- • Archaeology of Jerusalem
- • Biblical Archaeology
- • Bronze Age Archaeology
- • Iron Age Archaeology
- • First Temple Period
- • Kingdom of Judah
- • Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem
- • City of David
- • Jerusalem Fortifications
- • Archaeological Stratigraphy
- • Material Culture
- • Ancient Jerusalem
- • Roman Jerusalem
- • Western Wall Archaeology
- • Wilson's Arch
- • Ancient Inscriptions and Sealings
- • Archaeological Chronology
- • Dead Sea Scrolls
- • Dead Sea Scrolls Conservation and Documentation
- • Southern Levant Archaeology
New Archaeological Discoveries in Jerusalem — 2026
In March 2026, excavations in the City of David conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority exposed an important missing section of Jerusalem's Iron Age fortification system. The excavation was directed by Dr. Filip Vukosavović, Dr. Joe Uziel, and Ortal Chalaf.
The newly exposed section helped connect previously known portions of the fortification line protecting Jerusalem's eastern slope during the period of the Kingdom of Judah. Finds discovered near the wall included a Babylonian stamp seal, a bulla bearing a personal name in ancient Hebrew script, and vessels associated with Jerusalem on the eve of the Babylonian destruction of 586 BCE.
This recent discovery is particularly relevant to the archaeological and historical questions addressed by Dr. Uziel's conference presentation.
Selected Publications — Dr. Joe Uziel
Gadot, Yuval, and Joe Uziel.
"The Monumentality of Iron Age Jerusalem Prior to the 8th Century BCE."
Tel Aviv, 2017.
Regev, Johanna, Joe Uziel, Tehillah Lieberman, Avi Solomon, Yuval Gadot, Doron Ben-Ami, Lior Regev, and Elisabetta Boaretto.
"Radiocarbon Dating and Microarchaeology Untangle the History of Jerusalem's Temple Mount: A View from Wilson's Arch."
PLOS ONE, 2020.
Sapir-Hen, Lidar, Joe Uziel, and Ortal Chalaf.
"Everything But the Oink: On the Discovery of an Articulated Pig in Iron Age Jerusalem and Its Meaning to Judahite Consumption Practices."
Near Eastern Archaeology, 2021.
Eshel, Esther, Avraham Solomon, Tehillah Lieberman, Joe Uziel, and Anat Cohen-Weinberger.
"An Aramaic Inscription from beneath Wilson's Arch."
'Atiqot, 2022.
Shalom, Nitsan, Johanna Regev, Ortal Chalaf, Joe Uziel, Oded Lipschits, Yuval Gadot, and Elisabetta Boaretto.
"Invisible Destruction? Identifying Microscopic Evidence of Destruction by Fire in Iron Age Structures in Jerusalem."
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2025.
Uziel, Joe.
"Jerusalem, City of David Visitor Center: Remains from the Late Roman–Late Ottoman Periods."
Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel, 2026.
Hagbi, Moran, and Joe Uziel.
"Excavations at Jerusalem: The Byzantine Street (Area S2)."
'Atiqot 120, 2026.
Keywords
The presentation keywords will be announced soon.
Suggested Citation
Uziel, Joe. "Iron Age Destructions in Jerusalem: Archaeological Evidence, Written Sources, and a Brief Look at New Discoveries in 2026." Invited presentation at New Discoveries and New Directions in Biblical, Hebrew, and Theological Studies, European Hebrew Journal International Online Conference, 8 November 2026.
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