Old grenade found in older Jerusalem wall

JERUSALEM, July 7 (UPI) -- Archaeologists are trying to determine how a century-old Turkish hand grenade ended up hidden in an even older wall in Jerusalem.

The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the find Wednesday, Haaretz reported. The grenade was discovered Monday by a conservation team working near the Damascus Gate in the Old City.

A police explosives team was called to the scene. The grenade was subjected to a controlled demolition after experts went over it and concluded it dated from the last days of the Ottoman Empire and still contained explosive material.

The Ottoman Turks ruled Jerusalem for 400 years, from 1517 to 1917. The current walls of the Old City were erected by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century.

The conservationists who found the grenade were working on the Jerusalem City Walls Project, aimed at repairing years of damage.

"The stone was partially crushed and someone probably chose it as a place to hide the hand grenade," said Yoram Saad of the Israel Antiquities Authority.