Two rock-cut burial caves and greek inscriptions from the qidron valley, Jerusalem

Two rockcut burial caves (I, II), located at the bottom of the western slope of the Qidron Valley, were exposed. Cave I had been breached by antiquities looters in the past and was, therefore, documented only. Cave II was found sealed and was subsequently partially excavated. Two stone slabs (tombstones or tomb closing slabs) bearing Greek inscriptions were uncovered ex situ in the vicinity of the caves. Burial Cave I was dated to the Late Roman-Byzantine periods based solely on its plan. The architecture of Burial Cave II and the finds date its use to the Byzantine period (fifth-sixth centuries CE). Both caves are part of the Late Roman-Byzantine cemetery situated on the slopes of the Qidron Valley, and probably served Christian families dwelling in Jerusalem.