Archaeologists Discover Mysterious Staircase From Ancient Jerusalem

A mysterious staircase that leads to a podium and dating to Jesus' time was recently discovered by the Israeli Antiquities Authority in Jerusalem, archaeologists report.

The pyramid-shaped staircase dates back 2,000 years to the Second Temple area, and officials with the Israeli Antiquities Authority say they are unsure of the staircase's purpose in ancient Jerusalem.

The staircase was discovered near a stepped walkway that led Jerusalem pilgrims to the Second Temple at the Temple Mount.

"The structure exposed is unique," archaeologists Nahshon Szanton and Joe Uziel said in a statement. "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."

"Given the lack of a clear archaeological parallel to the stepped-structure, the purpose of the staircase remains a mystery," the archaeologists continued.

"We believe the structure was a kind of monumental podium that attracted the public's attention when walking on the city's main street. It would be very interesting to know what was said there 2,000 years ago. Were messages announced here on behalf of the government? Perhaps news or gossip, or admonitions and street preaching? Unfortunately we do not know," they added. 

According to Discovery News, the archaeologists have suggested that the pyramid steps formed some kind of public monument that could be seen by those walking through the city's main street. Pottery and glass objects were found at the stairs' base.