[NormsRevenge]

This undated but recent photo made available by the Israeli Antiquities Authority Monday March 13, 2006, shows an aerial view of the archaeological excavation site in Kfar Kana in northern Israel. Archaeologists said Monday they have uncovered underground chambers and tunnels constructed in northern Israel by Jews for hiding from the Romans during their revolt in A.D. 66-70. (AP Photo/Israeli Antiquities Authority)

[NormsRevenge]

ancient tunnels fyi

[NordP]

Woooooooo....I'm in awe.

[SlowBoat407]

Romanes eunt domus

[lesser_satan]

ping

[ghostrider]

This is clearly incorrect. Every palestinian knows that the Israelis are newcomers, who stole the land. They weren't there during Roman times (/raghead sarcasm)

[NormsRevenge]

Click the pic for more info.

11 complete storage jars characteristic of the second half of the 1st century CE

Excavations conducted by the Antiquities Authority in Kfar Kana (13.3.06)

Excavations conducted by the Antiquities Authority in Kfar Kana – north of Nazareth – a city was uncovered that dates to the time of the Kingdom of Israel. In addition, other remains were exposed of the Jewish settlement from the Roman period identified with “Kana of the Galilee”, which is known from the New Testament. Among the other antiquities discovered that date to this period are ‘hiding refuges’, underground pits linked by short tunnels that were apparently built and hewn prior to the Great Revolt by the Jews against the Romans in 66 CE.

In salvage excavations conducted by the Antiquities Authority in Kfar Kana remains of a settlement are being uncovered that existed at the time of the United Kingdom of King Solomon and the Kingdom of Israel (following the split between Israel and Judah, from the 10-9th centuries BCE). During the course of the excavations a section of the city wall and remains of buildings were exposed. The director of the excavation on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, Yardenna Alexandre, reported that evidence was found there indicating the place was vanquished during the 9th century BCE, probably by an enemy. In addition pottery vessels, large quantities of animal bones, a scarab depicting a man surrounded by two crocodiles and a ceramic seal bearing the image of a lion were discovered at the site.

Following the destruction the excavation area was abandoned until its ruins were re-inhabited by settlers in the Early Roman period (1st century CE). The identity of these residents as Galilean Jews is already known from previous excavations that were carried out at the site and from historic information that identifies the settlement as “Kana of the Galilee” – known from the New Testament. Some of the walls that were destroyed were reused in the new construction and new floors were laid down. The Jewish settlers built igloo-shaped pits on the ruins of the previous settlement, whereby the bedrock served as the floor of the pit and the walls were built. A rock-hewn pit was discovered in one of the tunnels and in it were 11 complete storage jars characteristic of the second half of the 1st century CE. Alexandre noted that “the pits are connected to each other by short tunnels and it seems that they were used as hiding refuges – a kind of concealed subterranean home – that were built prior to the Great Revolt against the Romans in the year 66 CE”.

[PzLdr]

Guess the planning didn't help. Wonder if they heard the Xth muttering "Judea delenda est."?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks NormsRevenge for the ping.

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[JerseyHighlander]

So Shlomo the northern Israel dirt farmer decides to dig some root cellars during the same time a group of urban revolutionaries are fomenting revolt in the capital, and Shlomo is immediately considered part of the revolution?

In 2000 years the Panama canal will be considered preparations for WWI along these lines.

[lizma]

I was watching a show a few weeks ago that was discussed the Holy Grail and the crusades. Talked about and showed an elaborate tunnel system in one of the ME port cities. (They were implying that this would be a way to smuggle stuff out if the Holy Land.)

Sounds like they used tunneling as part of their defense for quite awhile. I've been through medieval castles that had major tunnel systems. I guess we should expect to find more of these.

[SunkenCiv]

update:

Archaeologists in Israel
find ancient tunnels from
Jewish revolt against Romans
JewsWeek
August 9, 2006

...the recent discovery of these underground chambers at the Israeli Arab village of Kfar Kana, north of Nazareth, is unique. All other "hiding refuges" found so far are hewn out of rock. But at Kfar Kana, the settlers built the chambers out of housing materials, and they hid them directly under their floors. They made sure their families had access to the chambers from inside their homes... Alexandre describes the chambers as "very attractive." Built like igloos, they are wide at the base and small at the top. The tunnels between them are very short, and the ceilings are too low for standing up.