Ancient Tunnel of Unknown Age and Purpose Unearthed Near Jerusalem

A mysterious ancient stone tunnel has been discovered near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel on the southern outskirts of Jerusalem, uncovered during preventative excavations ahead of the construction of a new neighborhood. The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the find on Thursday, May 14, reporting a rock-hewn passage that measures roughly 50 meters (164 feet) long, five meters high, and three meters wide.

“We were excavating in relatively rocky and exposed terrain when suddenly we discovered a natural karstic cavity,” said excavation directors Dr. Sivan Mizrahi and Zinovi Matskevich. “To our amazement, as the excavation progressed, this cavity developed into a long tunnel. Parts of it are still collapsed, so the tunnel has not yet revealed all of its secrets.” After descending an ancient staircase from the surface, the team reached the hewn opening, which had filled with sewage over the course of hundreds or even thousands of years.

The directors marveled at the craftsmanship, noting that whoever carved the passage “invested tremendous effort, careful planning,” and clearly commanded significant resources. Its age remains uncertain, since not a single dating artifact was recovered from within. The site sits only a few hundred meters from two notable landmarks — a First Temple–period public building in the city’s Arnona neighborhood and Tel Ramat Rachel, leaving its true origin a quiet riddle in the hills of Jerusalem.

(JPost/VFI News)

“For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, and show favor to her dust.” – Psalm 102:14

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