Steps of Ascent Artifact Presentation

Israel's leading archaeologist will present an astounding gift to CEM during our first Saturday, JULY 4th, 2026 at 2:00pm celebrating the 250th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION. Israeli Archaeologist Eli Shukrun is flying to America for the specific purpose of presenting an original artifact from the Steps of Ascent to our museum.

OUR SPECIAL GUEST will be arriving in time to take part in our Annual Public Excavations June 29th - July 3rd. During the morning of the Glen Rose July 4th Parade he will be honored by receiving an official City Proclamation and the Key to the City, presented by the Mayor and the County Judgeship.

Eli Shukrun, Short List of Discoveries...

Eli Shukron (Hebrew: אלי שוקרון) is an Israeli archaeologist employed by the Israel Antiquities Authority.

In 2004, Shukron and archaeologist Ronny Reich discovered and began the excavation of the Pool of Siloam. The pool was used for Jewish healing rituals and is cited in the New Testament as the site of a healing miracle of Jesus.

In 2007, Shukron and Reich discovered and began the excavation of an ancient Jerusalem water channel that drained Jerusalem. Among the finds was a rare half-shekel coin, used to pay the Second Temple tax; only seven other such coins have been found in archeological digs.

In September 2009, Shukron and Reich discovered and began the excavation of the ancient Jerusalem Pilgrim Road currently open to the public.

In May 2012, he discovered a shard from a bulla bearing the name of the city of Bethlehem. This is the first time that Bethlehem is mentioned outside the Bible from the period of the First Temple.

In May 2014, he discovered the legendary Citadel of David described in the Bible during his excavation of the ancient City of David in East Jerusalem.

In December 2022, together with Gershon Galil, he discovered a summary inscription in the Siloam tunnel recording the deeds of Hezekiah, including the cutting of the tunnel, and giving the date it was completed.

In the interim he discovered a Gold Bell from the High Priest's garment, Melchizedek's Altar, Hezekiah's Pool, the Coronation Platform of King Solomon, and the Waterway for the King's Garden.