A Long Section of Jerusalem’s 2,000-Year-Old Lower Aqueduct Uncovered in Archaeological Excavations near Ramat Rachel
A 300-meter-long section of Jerusalem’s Lower Aqueduct, originally constructed in the Hasmonean period, has been exposed in Israel Antiquities Authority excavations south of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, in an area where the Israel Land Authority will build a new neighborhood.
The aqueduct was part of a sophisticated ancient water system that carried spring water from the Gush Etzion area via Solomon’s Pools to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
According to Dr. Benyamin Storchan,Gil Freid and Rotem Cohen, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The Lower Aqueduct was an impressive engineering project, probably built in the time of the Hasmonean kings to supply water to Jerusalem. The system was so well planned that it remained in intermittent use until about 100 years ago. The aqueduct runs about 21 km from Solomon’s Pools, south of Bethlehem, to Jerusalem. Along most of the route, the water flowed along a very gentle gradient, dropping just one meter in elevation per kilometer.”
The aqueduct was designed so that water flowed by gravity alone, without pumps or other mechanical means. To achieve this, its planners had to maintain a gentle and precise gradient over many kilometers, adapting the route to the hillslopes and bedrock. Cleanout points were installed along the system, providing access to the channel for clearing blockages and routine maintenance.
The newly exposed section shows various stages in the history of the water system. Initially, the water flowed in a built, plastered channel. About 500 years ago, during the Ottoman period, ceramic pipes were installed within the original channel. At that time, the outer face of the aqueduct wall was plastered, and small stones were pressed into the plaster while it was still wet. This produced a distinctive surface that accompanied the aqueduct along its route. The sequence of repairs reflects the aqueduct’s importance and the ongoing effort to maintain Jerusalem’s water supply.
Cooperation between the Israel Land Authority and the Israel Antiquities Authority will preserve the aqueduct as a living part of the developing urban landscape. According to the building plans, the aqueduct will be integrated into the main entrance of the new neighborhood and displayed to the public.
According to Dr. Amit Re’em, Jerusalem District Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The aqueduct is an engineering marvel. Even today, with all our modern technology, building such a system would require extensive planning and effort. The thought that about 2,000 years ago they managed to bring water to Jerusalem this way is astonishing, and we want the public to be able to appreciate this achievement up close. The dream and vision of the Israel Antiquities Authority is to create a continuous park that will allow people to walk alongside the aqueduct from southern Jerusalem to the Old City, and we are already advancing this initiative together with the Jerusalem Municipality and other partners.”
According to Yehuda Eliyahu, Acting Director of the Israel Land Authority, “The spectacular discovery of the ancient aqueduct in the heart of the area planned for the new neighborhood in Jerusalem reminds us that we are continuing a glorious chain of generations of building and development. The Israel Land Authority is pleased to lead extensive modern development while showing national responsibility and carefully safeguarding our historical heritage assets. Integrating the aqueduct into the entrance of the new neighborhood will give residents and visitors a direct connection to Jerusalem’s rich history and to the deep bond of the people of Israel with its eternal capital.”
The research on Jerusalem’s Lower Aqueduct will be presented for the first time this week at the 19th “New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and Its Region” conference, held in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and initiated by the Israel Antiquities Authority, Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University, and Tagliyot – Israel Institute of Archaeology.
