 At the Western Wall Plaza , the total height of the Wall from its foundation is estimated at 105 feet ( 32 m ) , with the exposed section standing approximately 62 feet ( 19 m ) high . The Wall consists of 45 stone courses , 28 of them above ground and 17 underground . The first seven visible layers are from the Herodian period . This section of wall is built from enormous <unk> limestone blocks , possibly quarried at either <unk> 's Cave situated under the Muslim Quarter of the Old City or at Ramat Shlomo 4 kilometres ( 2 @.@ 5 mi ) northwest of the Old City . Most of them weigh between 2 and 8 short tons ( 1 @.@ 8 and 7 @.@ 3 t ) each , but others weigh even more , with one extraordinary stone located slightly north of Wilson 's Arch measuring 13 metres ( 43 ft ) and weighing approximately 517 tonnes ( 570 short tons ) . Each of these <unk> is framed by fine @-@ chiseled borders . The margins themselves measure between 5 and 20 centimetres ( 2 and 8 in ) wide , with their depth measuring 1 @.@ 5 centimetres ( 0 @.@ 59 in ) . In the Herodian period , the upper 10 metres ( 33 ft ) of wall were 1 metre ( 39 in ) thick and served as the outer wall of the double colonnade of the Temple platform . This upper section was decorated with pilasters , the remainder of which were destroyed when the Byzantines reconquered Jerusalem from the Persians in 628 . 
