Thwarted Heist Leads to Discovery of Second Bais Hsamikdash Stone Workshop

 

An attempted antiquities theft on Mount Scopus led the Israel Antiquities Authority to a hidden Second Temple-era stone workshop, where hundreds of ritual vessel fragments and production debris were discovered.

The find reveals the site’s role in supplying Jerusalem’s Jewish population and pilgrims with ritual vessels, highlighting the region’s ancient craftsmanship and religious practices.