by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Worthy News) – Israeli archaeologists have uncovered a remarkably preserved section of a 2,000-year-old aqueduct that once carried water to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, offering fresh evidence of the engineering achievements of ancient Israel during the Second Temple period.
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Sunday that excavations south of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel revealed a 300-meter (984-foot) section of Jerusalem’s Lower Aqueduct, believed to have been constructed during the Hasmonean dynasty more than two millennia ago.
The ancient waterway stretched approximately 21 kilometers (13 miles), transporting spring water from the Gush Etzion region through Solomon’s Pools, south of Bethlehem, to Jerusalem.
Remarkably, the entire system operated without mechanical pumps. Ancient engineers carefully designed the channel to follow the mountainous terrain while maintaining a gradual descent of approximately one meter per kilometer, allowing gravity to carry water into the holy city.
“The Lower Aqueduct was an impressive engineering project, probably built in the time of the Hasmonean kings to supply water to Jerusalem,” excavation directors Dr. Benyamin Storchan and Gil Freid explained.
The system was so effective that it remained in intermittent use until approximately a century ago.
Supplying Water for Temple Worship
The aqueduct played an important role in sustaining Jerusalem’s growing population and the thousands of Jewish pilgrims who traveled to the Temple during the biblical pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost), and Sukkot (Tabernacles).
These celebrations brought enormous crowds to Jerusalem, creating substantial demand for drinking water, ritual purification, and Temple activities.
The discovery comes just weeks after archaeologists revealed an extensive Second Temple-era ritual bathing complex near the southern entrance to the Temple Mount. That complex included three large ritual baths and an elaborate drainage system, underscoring the scale of infrastructure required to accommodate ancient Jewish worshippers.
Although researchers have not established a direct connection between the newly uncovered aqueduct section and those particular baths, the discoveries together illuminate the sophisticated water systems supporting Jerusalem’s religious life.
Ancient Engineering Preserved for Future Generations
Archaeologists also identified evidence of repairs and modifications spanning centuries, including ceramic pipes installed during the Ottoman period approximately 500 years ago.
Dr. Amit Re’em, the IAA’s Jerusalem district archaeologist, described the aqueduct as an engineering marvel, noting that constructing such a system would require extensive planning even with modern technology.
Rather than covering the discovery beneath new construction, Israeli authorities intend to preserve the exposed aqueduct as a prominent feature at the entrance to a planned residential neighborhood.
Officials also envision a future archaeological park allowing visitors to follow portions of the ancient waterway toward Jerusalem’s Old City.
The discovery provides another remarkable glimpse into Jerusalem’s biblical past, revealing the practical infrastructure that supported Jewish worship during the centuries surrounding the life and ministry of Yeshua (Jesus).
For nearly 2,000 years, the aqueduct helped sustain Jerusalem through successive kingdoms and empires. Now, its rediscovery is bringing another chapter of the city’s ancient Jewish history back into view.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
