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First Temple-Era Water Tunnel Revealed in Jerusalem
Arutz Sheva ^ | 10-30-08

Posted on 10/30/2008 5:32:06 AM PDT by SJackson

First Temple-Era Water Tunnel Revealed in Jerusalem

by Hana Levi Julian

(IsraelNN.com) A tunnel built thousands of years ago – and which may even have been used during King David's conquest of Jerusalem – has been uncovered in the ancient City of David, just outside the Old City and across the street from the Dung Gate.

Renowned Israeli archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazer, who is leading the dig, revealed the findings from the discovery Thursday morning at an archaeological symposium at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Mazer, who also uncovered King David's palace, has led the world in ancient Jerusalem findings. Some of her other discoveries have included proof of another Biblical story, in the Book of Jeremiah. A completely intact seal impression, or "bula," bearing the name Gedaliahu ben Pashur was uncovered. The bula is actually a stamped engraving made of mortar. Mazer also found a second such impression not far away, as as well as the remnants of a wall from the prophet Nechemia.

The archaeologist said there is a high probability that the tunnel is the one referred to as the "tsinor" in the Biblical story of King David's conquest of Jerusalem (Samuel II, 5:6-8; Chronicles I, 11:4-6).

"The new discoveries in the excavations in the City of David illuminate the ancient history of Jerusalem and the reality described in the Bible," she noted.

Ancient Engineering, Lasting Technology

The opening to the 3,000-year-old tunnel was found earlier this year during the ongoing excavations at the site. The tunnel itself is located under a mammoth stone building that was previously identified as King David's palace, built some time during the 10th century B.C.E., according to the Gregorian calendar.

Barely wide enough to allow a single person through, the walls of the passage were apparently created partly by carving rough stones, partly by making use of the existing bedrock. Only the first 50 meters are accessible at present, since the tunnel is filled with fallen rocks and debris, said Mazer.

Whole, undamaged oil lamps that were characteristic of the First Temple period were found on the floor of the tunnel during the dig.

The archaeologist added that the tunnel was probably used to channel water to a pool by the palace, and eventually was converted to an escape passage near the end of the First Temple period. Additional walls were built to block the tunnel from the sight of anyone of the nearby hill and to protect it from debris filtering in.

The dig, which is being sponsored by the Shalem Center research institute and the City of David Foundation, was carried out under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs; israel

1 posted on 10/30/2008 5:32:06 AM PDT by SJackson
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To: SJackson

“Indy, they’re digging in the wrong place1” -—Salah


2 posted on 10/30/2008 5:34:07 AM PDT by 50sDad (OBAMA: In your heart you know he's Wright.)
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To: 50sDad
“Indy, they’re digging in the wrong place!” -—Salah

DOH!

3 posted on 10/30/2008 5:34:34 AM PDT by 50sDad (OBAMA: In your heart you know he's Wright.)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

----------------------------

4 posted on 10/30/2008 5:35:41 AM PDT by SJackson (I don't believe that people should be able to own guns, BH Obama to John Lott)
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To: SJackson

Excellent!


5 posted on 10/30/2008 5:40:34 AM PDT by bmwcyle (Vote McWhatshisname and PALIN)
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To: zot

ping


6 posted on 10/30/2008 5:41:45 AM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead (3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87))
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To: SJackson
Reminiscent of James Michener's "The Source" -- a long, but excellent historical novel for those interested in archaeology or Hebrew history -- or both..
7 posted on 10/30/2008 6:10:09 AM PDT by TXnMA (ICE: Deport illegal alien, Barack Hussein Obama (aka Barry Soetoro) back to his homeland - Kenya!)
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To: TXnMA
Reminiscent of James Michener's "The Source" -- a long, but excellent historical novel for those interested in archaeology or Hebrew history -- or both..

Yep! I was just trying to think of the engineer's name "'something' the hoopoe". Can you remember?

8 posted on 10/30/2008 6:23:14 AM PDT by nina0113 (If fences don't work, why does the White House have one?)
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To: nina0113
"Yep! I was just trying to think of the engineer's name "'something' the hoopoe". Can you remember?"

Nope! However, I did go retrieve the book from the table beside the "reading throne", where it now resides for its umpteenth re-reading -- and, for many pages into the "Psalm of the Hoopoe Bird" chapter, all Michener calls him is, "Hoopoe". (His wife is "Kerith".)

If I find his name, I'll let you know what I found..

9 posted on 10/30/2008 6:43:18 AM PDT by TXnMA (ICE: Deport illegal alien, Barack Hussein Obama (aka Barry Soetoro) back to his homeland - Kenya!)
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To: GreyFriar

Thanks for the ping. It seems as though everything under Jerusalem is a honeycomb of tunnels.


10 posted on 10/30/2008 1:17:11 PM PDT by zot
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To: Ezekiel
"The new discoveries in the excavations in the City of David illuminate the ancient history of Jerusalem and the reality described in the Bible," she noted.

FYI...

11 posted on 11/01/2008 11:14:29 AM PDT by Jeremiah Jr (What would John Lennon do?)
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·

 
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Okay, yes, I'm finishing up my posting / pinging backlog today, because tomorrow I'll be busy -- and so will all of you.

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12 posted on 11/03/2008 9:49:38 AM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile finally updated Saturday, October 11, 2008 !!!)
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To: nina0113

Jabaal the hoopoe


13 posted on 11/03/2008 4:44:20 PM PST by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own risk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
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