TEL AVIV Vol. 42, 2015, 233–250 © The Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University 2015 DOI 10.1179/0334435515Z.00000000053 Recent Excavations Near the Gihon Spring and Their Reflection on the Character of Iron II Jerusalem Joe Uziel and Nahshon Szanton Israel Antiquities Authority The paper presents discoveries from recent excavations in Areas C and H at the City of David, Jerusalem, where a sequence of Iron II strata contribute to understanding the development of ancient Jerusalem from the late 9th/early 8th centuries BCE until the 586 BCE destruction. These data are used to emphasize two issues regarding the Iron II city: that the Middle Bronze Age fortifications built around the Gihon Spring were still functioning; and that the city expanded at a gradual pace until it reached its peak size in the late 8th century BCE. The latter point is important when considering the impact of the destruction of the Northern Kingdom on the extent and population of Jerusalem. Keywords Jerusalem, Iron Age Jerusalem, City of David, Western Hill, Gihon Spring, Rock-cut pool From 2012 onward ieldwork was undertaken near the Gihon Spring (Areas C and H; Fig. 1) in the City of David, Jerusalem, continuing the long-term project conducted at the site by Reich and Shukron (for a comprehensive review of their excavations, see Reich 2011). The excavations revealed a stratigraphic sequence spanning from the Early Bronze Age until modern times (see Table 1). 1 Of particular interest are Strata 9–7 (see Table 1), which date from the late 9th–early 8th centuries BCE (i.e., late Iron IIA) 2 until 1 The excavations were carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority within the conines of the national park and were funded by the Elad Foundation. In 2012, the excavation was directed by J. Uziel and E. Shukron, while in 2013 it was directed by the authors. Assisting in the excavation were N. Sanduka (area supervisor); V. Essman and Y. Shmidov (surveying and drafting); V. Neichin, A. Peretz and C. Amit (photography); N. Mizrachi and G. Berkowitz (foremen); M. and D. Shukron (excavation struts and excavation); A. Sanduka (registrar); and S. Adallah (metal detection). Finds were drawn by A. Karasik (digital drawing) and C. Hersch. Wet sifting was carried out at the Emek Tsurim National Park. We are grateful to everyone who assisted in bringing these inds to publication. 2 Following the chronological scheme presented in Sharon et al. 2007.