Tomb of Absalom Archaeological Site

Address: Tomb of Absalom (Absalom’s Tomb), Kidron Valley / Mount of Olives area, Jerusalem

Admission: Free to visit

The Tomb of Absalom is a freestanding ancient rock-cut monument and funerary facade in the Kidron Valley, Jerusalem. It dates to the 1st century CE and is traditionally associated with Absalom, son of King David.

The monument was carved into the limestone cliff in the 1st century CE and is thought to mark a tomb or memorial of a wealthy local family rather than the biblical Absalom. Over centuries it acquired the popular attribution to Absalom and has been noted in travel accounts and antiquarian studies since the Ottoman period.

The tomb sits in the Kidron Valley on the eastern slope of Jerusalem’s Old City, immediately below the Mount of Olives and a short walk from the eastern walls of the Old City.

• Access and viewing: Found on a paved path that runs along the Kidron Valley, the site is easily viewed from the valley path and from terraces on the Mount of Olives.
• Also known as Yad Avshalom: The monument is commonly referred to by its Hebrew name Yad Avshalom and is part of a cluster of ancient tombs often visited together.

What to See#

• Kidron Valley cluster: Located on the east side of the Kidron Valley immediately below the Mount of Olives, this cluster includes adjacent rock-cut monuments commonly visited together.
• Tomb of Zechariah: Tomb of Zechariah - a distinct square monument with a conical top standing a short distance northwest of the Absalom monument, carved into the same cliff face.
• Tombs of Benei Hezir: Tombs of Benei Hezir - an ancient rock-cut family tomb with an inscribed facade located nearby in the same cemetery area.

The Tomb of Absalom sits in the Kidron Valley at the foot of the Mount of Olives, immediately adjacent to the Old City of Jerusalem. From inside the Old City exit via Lion’s Gate and it is about a 5-10 minute walk south along the Kidron Valley to the monument; from Jaffa Gate expect a 15-25 minute walk uphill. It is also easily reached by taxi or by local East Jerusalem buses that stop near the Mount of Olives; most visitors arrive on foot from the Old City.

• Go early in the morning to avoid tour-group peaks and to catch softer light on the monument's carved façade; the site sits in a functioning cemetery so quieter hours are also more respectful.
• Approach on the Kidron Valley/Mount of Olives side and follow the footpaths that run along the valley - this gives the clearest, least obstructed views and links naturally to nearby highlights like the Tomb of Zechariah, which many visitors miss.
• Be mindful that this is a religious cemetery area: keep noise low, avoid stepping on graves, and check opening times or local restrictions around Jewish holidays.