Israel Antiquities Authority
The tunnel is around 50 meters long and up to 5 meters high, having been excavated by humans. Scientists have no idea who excavated it or why.
Archaeologists in Israel have discovered a huge underground tunnel system near Jerusalem, a discovery that raises new questions about the region’s ancient past.
The underground structure was discovered during a routine archaeological survey carried out by Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) before the construction of a new residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
“We were digging in relatively rocky and exposed terrain when suddenly, we discovered a natural karst cavity” excavation directors Sivan Mizrahi and Zinovi Matskevich said in a statement released by the IAA. “To our surprise, as the excavation progressed, this cavity it turned into a long tunnel.”
The tunnel runs through more than 50 meters and reaches approximately 5 meters in height and 3 meters in width. Archaeologists say some sections are large enough for a school bus to pass through comfortably.
Researchers enter the structure through a staircase that leads to an entrance carved into the rock, which opens onto the main passage. Although parts of the tunnel have collapsed over time, others sections remain intacthowever filled by thick layers of soil accumulated over the centuries.
Experts believe that the tunnel was excavated by humansand not naturally formed, citing the precision and scale of the excavation work.
“The extraction of the stone was carried out meticulously,” explained Mizrahi and Matskevich. “It is clear that whoever dug this tunnel invested tremendous effortcareful planning and had the necessary capabilities and resources to achieve that goal.”
Initially, archaeologists suspected that the structure may have served as an ancient water tunnel connected to nearby springs. However, geologists later ruled out this possibility since the area has no underground water sources and the tunnel walls show no signs of plaster, a material typically used in water transport systems.
The most accepted theory currently suggests that the tunnel may have functioned as a quarry or mining passage used to extract chalk or limestone for construction materials or lime production. Still, researchers say there is not enough evidence to confirm its exact function.
The complete absence of artifacts or organic material that could help date the site adds to the mystery. However, the tunnel is close to several important archaeological sites dating back to the Iron Age and First Temple period, which raises the possibility that be between 2500 and 3000 years old.
For archaeologists, the discovery highlights how much remains hidden beneath Jerusalem. “We usually have explanations for the discoveries we make,” said Jerusalem district archaeologist Amit Re’em. “But sometimes, like in this case, we were perplexed and amazed.”
