Light Rail Collides with Antiquity

The dig is limited to a width of six meters (20 feet) because of traffic constraints, but there is much more uncovered to the right and left of the roadway. It is believed to have been a planned urban settlement with a grid of streets rather than a farming community. Although no mikvot (ritual baths) have been found, it is believed to be of Jewish origin. Private and public buildings and two Roman bath houses have been found, as well as 18 ancient coins and 5 inkwells, more than unearthed in Qumran, home of the Dead Sea scrolls. The inkwells attest to administrative functions––possibly under Roman supervision––carried out along the ancient Jerusalem-Samaria road.

Debbie Sklar-Parnes, the archaeologist assigned to the dig, reported on the significance of the find. “Discovering a settlement of such size and such orderly layout was a big surprise…We know about the war of destruction and exile of Jews from inside the city, but what about neighboring areas? So far, there have been no finds. Now we have a defined period and specific Jewish elements.”

Unfortunately, the excavation will shortly be filled and the site covered up. Moriah said they do not foresee any delay in their work and do not believe the route will be changed. However, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has the authority to make such judgments. One IAA archaeologist, Jon Seligman, explained, “We determine if the goal is to salvage information through research or possibly display the site to the public due to its special importance.” “Salvage digs” are intended to “document conditions before damage is done through development,” he said.

In AD 70, Jews were expelled from Jerusalem, then a walled city. Most archaeologists believe the new site is the closest Jewish settlement to Jerusalem that has been discovered to date.