The Givati Parking Lot dig (also called Wadi Hilwa Square)[1] is an archaeological excavation located in Silwan in advance of building project commissioned by the El'ad Association.

The dig was conducted by Doron Ben-Ami and Yana Tchekhanovets of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the City of David Foundation.

[6] El'ad "[pursues] an ideology of strengthening the Jewish hold in Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem",[7] and the excavations at the parking lot have contributed to that aim.

[13] Residents of Silwan and non-governmental organization Peace Now objected to the proposed construction and petitioned to stop the work, though were ultimately unsuccessful.

[16] According to archaeologists Doron Ben-Ami, Yana Tchekhanovets and Salome Dan Goor they had unearthed a complex of rooms and fortified walls they identified as the Acra.

Bronze arrowheads, lead sling-stones and ballista stones were unearthed at the site, stamped with a trident characteristic to the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

Based on the writings of Josephus and 1 Maccabees 1:33,[18] Ritmeyer argues (a) there were two distinct fortified structures in the Lower City and (b) the new citadel, the Acra, was higher than the Temple, which it overlooked.

[22] An investigation by Emek Shaveh found that the developers who intended to build on the site prioritised the preservation of layers relating to Jewish history.

[24] Archaeologist Mahmoud Hawari contends that the Israeli-led excavations in Silwan contravene international law as they are carried out in occupied territory.