A systematic program of ar-
chaeological excavations re-
vealed the splendour of the past 
in the City of David, at the foot 
of the Temple Mount and in the 
Jewish Quarter.  Important dis-
coveries dating to the Iron Age, 
and Hellenistic, Roman, Byzan-
tine, Umayyad, Abbasid, Cru-
sader, Ayyubid, Fatimid, Mame-
luke and Ottoman periods have 
provided illustrative material for 
a more detailed reconstruction of 
the city's history and material 
culture.