Ancient site of Jesus ‘miracle’ found in Israel
Archaeologists believe they have discovered the sacred spot where Jesus healed a blind man in the Bible.
The 12 metre wall, which dates back 2,800 years, was constructed in Jerusalem to collect water and allowed the formation of the Pool of Siloam.
In the gospel of John, it is written that Jesus restored sight to a beggar after sending him to wash in the Siloam waters.
Excavation director Itamar Berko, of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), said the discovery provided a “tangible” link to the place described in scripture.
He said: “If until today we could only read in the Biblical text about the existence of the Pool of Siloam, now we can see its tangible remnants and its beginning.
The ancient wall could be the site of a miracle performed by Jesus in the Bible — Eliyahu Yanai/IAA via Pen News
“Behind us is a monumental dam wall, enormous in size, over 11 metres high, dated to 2,800 years ago during the First Temple period, in the time of kings Joash and Amaziah.”
As well as being 12 metres high, the wall is more than eight metres wide and at least 21 metres in length.
It was part of an engineering complex which captured water from the Gihon Spring and channelled it through the Tyropoeon Valley to the Kidron Stream.
The dam was likely built to both save water in times of drought and curb flash flooding.
Archaeologists were able to radiocarbon date it to the end of the 9th century BC after unearthing twigs and branches in the construction mortar.
The team compared the dates to climate data and found the dam was likely built in a period of low rainfall, interspersed with short and intense storms that could cause flooding.
Dr Nahshon Szanton, co-director of the excavation, said: “It is the lowest point in ancient Jerusalem.
“All the water, all the run-off from the rain that falls essentially flows here to this central, large drainage basin of the city.
“If it wasn’t for this dam wall, the water flowing in this channel would simply flow into the Kidron Valley straight to the Dead Sea.”
Heritage minister Amichai Eliyahu said: “The exposure of the largest dam ever found in Israel, in the heart of ancient Jerusalem, is tangible evidence of the strength of the Kingdom of Judah and the creativity of its kings in dealing with natural and environmental challenges.”