IAA Unearths Unusual Steps in the City of David

JERUSALEM, Israel -- In yet another intriguing discovery, archaeologists excavating on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered an unusual stepped structure on a road between the Pool of Siloam and the Temple Mount.

The 2,000-year-old structure is close to where the Second Jewish Temple built by King Herod was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.

The team uncovered the structure while excavating the ancient road leading to the Pool of Siloam (Shiloah in Hebrew).

Co-directors Nahshon Szanton and Joe Uziel believe they've unearthed a "unique" structure.

"To date such a structure has yet to be found along the stepped street in the numerous excavations that have taken place in Jerusalem and, to the best of our knowledge, outside of it," they said in a statement.

The directors believe the stepped structure may have served as a podium for announcements to people traveling to and from the Temple.

Szanton and Uziel will talk about their discovery at the 16th annual conference hosted by the City of David Studies of ancient Jerusalem on Thursday.