
Even the Shattered Fragments of the Tablets Contain Meaning
Moses breaking the tablets, Gustav Dora (1832-1883).
Yesterday was the 17th day of Tammuz, which is considered one of the four fasts observed by the Jewish People in order to commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem and the First and Second…

Find and Finder of the Month: Yiftah Levi Found a Knights Templar Horseshoe Nail
For want of a nail the shoe was lost
For want of a shoe the horse was lost
For want of a horse the rider was lost
For want of a rider the battle was lost
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost
And…

A Piercing Insight Into Ancient Beads
When coming into the sifting site, groups are shown into a gallery where a few of our finds are displayed, and our guides are presented with a tough choice – with limited time, which do you point out and discuss?
Personally,…

Find and Finder of the Month: Robert Kolb found a Spindle Whorl with a significant number
Robert Kolb with the spindle whorl
Our latest Finder of the Month is Robert Kolb, a retired US Army officer. Robert tells us that he “was so excited to have played a small part in helping us understand the history of this amazing country.…

An Important Letter from the Temple Mount Sifting Project
The story of the Temple Mount Sifting Project is your story just as much as it is ours. Ever since its founding, the project has continuously relied upon people just like you. It is our many followers, supporters and volunteers who play a vital…

Find and Finders of the Month: André and Daniela Lopes Found a Piece of a Stone Vessel
When we heard about the Temple Mount Sifting Project months before we planned our trip to Israel, we made sure to plan our participation. Being able to have the experience of touching such ancient and sacred materials was a unique opportunity!…

Find and Finder of the Month: Danielle Pinto of Florida found Another Cheater’s Game Die
“I really didn’t expect to find anything, but already in the first minute I found an amazing die!”, said Danielle Pinto of Florida after she found an ancient game die while sifting Temple Mount soil.
A game die is always an exciting…

Find and Finder of the Month: Elroi Levi Found a Flint Side-Scraper
Sometimes, we simply don't know. The flint tool you see in this photo is really old. But just how much is "really old"?Let's take a step back to what we do know. Pictured here is Elroi Levi, who joined his dad at work one day during Passover…

Find and Finder of the Month: Alexei Vishnyakov Found a Crusader Opus Sectile Tile
Alexei Vishnyakov from Russia uncovered evidence of Crusader tiling in the Temple Mount.
We haven't had a "Find & Finder of the month" post for a while now. We're happy to report that we’re slowly coming out of the pandemic slump,…

Analysis of Clay Sealings Revealed Evidence of the Temple Treasury and the Royal Treasury of the Kingdom of Judah in the First Temple Period
Is not this laid up in store with Me, sealed up in My treasuries?Deut. 32:34
A study we have conducted on dozens of clay sealings recovered in sifting of Temple Mount soil and in excavations at the Ophel Park (adjacent to the Southern Wall…

Find and Finder of the Month: Yarden Shor discovered an 8th Century CE Arabic inscription
Yarder Shor with a fragment of a Kufic inscription.
The find chosen for this month was discovered by Yarden Shor, 7 years old, from Jerusalem, who took part in the sifting project towards the end of this summer. She revealed a piece of a…

Find and Finder of the Month: ‘LMLK’ Seal Impression, found by Eliya Danieli
The Danieli family is a familiar sight at the sifting site, returning every year at the start of the month of Av, to connect and feel the soil of the Temple Mount during the days in which the destruction of the Temple is remembered.
But…