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Sep 6 Blog

Ancient Reservoir Provided Water for First Temple Period Jerusalem

By: Noah Wiener

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and Jerusalem archaeologist Eli Shukron announced the discovery of a large First Temple period reservoir today, reshaping our understanding of ancient water systems and water access in First Temple period Jerusalem. The rock-hewn and plastered reservoir has a capacity of over 8,000 cubic feet, the first of its size and kind discovered in First Temple period Jerusalem. Previous understanding of contemporaneous public ancient water systems focus on access to the Gihon Spring, which became accessible from Jerusalem through Warren’s Shaft, Hezekiah’s Tunnel and the Siloam Channel over the course of the First Temple Period. The large size of the reservoir, coupled with evidence of smaller cisterns in the area, suggests that the water would have been available for the broader urban population, and would have supplemented the Gihon Spring as a main water source.

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