An underground hiding system from the waters of Bar Kochba was found in Khokok/Photo: Emil Elgem, Antiquities Authority
Archaeological excavations with the participation of students, residents and soldiers, which have been going on for the past few months in Hukok near the Sea of Galilee, provide a glimpse into dramatic moments in the history of the Jewish people: the preparation of underground shelters (similar to today's Madimim) in preparation for the outbreak of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans led by Bar Kochba, in 132 AD The
excavations show that as part of the preparations of the Jews to fight against the Roman rule, both in the Great Revolt and in the Bar Kochba Rebellion, the residents of the settlement of Hakok converted the water cisterns that had been dug during the Second Temple period into hiding systems. In addition, in their distress, they canceled a Mikveh Tahara, and in its place - carved a system A branched hiding place, which allowed for safe movement under the houses, inside winding, narrow and particularly low caves. In this underground system, which is the largest and most impressive discovered in the Galilee, there are about eight hiding spaces, and its caves are turned at angles of ninety degrees (in order to make it difficult for the Roman enemy armed with Heavy, in pursuit of the fugitives.) In the excavations, hundreds of fragments of pottery and glass were discovered, a particularly impressive ring decorated with a dima (a gemstone attached to the ring but not found) of a woman or girl that seems to have been dropped from her hand, and other finds that provide a glimpse of the dramatic moments from the 2nd century AD.
The MMD of the time. The system of concealment revealed in the Law/Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
The work of teenage boys and girls in the excavations in Hakok/Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
A ring that was discovered in the hiding system in Hakok/Antiquities Authority, Emil Elgem
Hakok - a Jewish settlement since Roman times
The settlement of Hakok is recognized in the study of antiquity as a Jewish settlement since the Roman period - about 2000 years ago, and was used as such in later periods as well;
The Jerusalem Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud mention the names of sages from the 3rd and 4th centuries AD who worked there, such as Rish Lakish, Rabbi Pinchas and Rabbi Hezekiah.
On the top of the hill - near the hiding place, a synagogue dating back to the Byzantine period was uncovered, with magnificent and unique mosaics.
This synagogue has been excavated since 2011 by a delegation from the University of North Carolina led by Prof. Judy Magness.
The purpose of the archaeological excavation initiated by the Antiquities Authority in Hakok, funded by the Ministry of Heritage and in cooperation with the Safed Academic College and the National Fund for Israel, is to reveal the rich history of the site while involving the future generation in discovering its past, and finally - to make the site accessible to the public.
The sophisticated hiding system that was excavated is one of the important heritage sites that will be developed in the Galilee, which will reveal to the general public the defense methods of the Jews during this period.
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Uri Berger in the hidden system/Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
An underground hiding system from the waters of Bar Kochba found in Hokok/Antiquities Authority, Emil Eljem
"A glimpse into the difficult days of hardship in the Jewish settlement"
"As part of the Antiquities Authority's vision to connect the public to the heritage near their homes, we turned the excavation in the legal hiding system into a community excavation," says Dr. Einat Ambar-Eramon, director of the Antiquities Authority's archaeological-educational center in the northern region. "The excavation involves students from the Eretz major Israel and archaeology, students from the Safed Academic College, volunteers from the Haaretz Israeli Cave Hunters Club, local residents who volunteer at the site, and even soldiers from the Weasel Unit - the underground commando unit of the IDF's Combat Engineering Corps, who applied their skills to this important cause also participated.
"The hiding system provides a glimpse into the difficult days of the Jewish settlement in Hukok itself and in the Galilee in general," say the excavation managers, Uri Berger from the Antiquities Authority and Prof. Yanon Shabtiel from Safed Academic College.
"But the story emerging from the website is an optimistic story of an ancient Jewish settlement that survived historical upheavals and could have had them," they say.
"This is a story about residents who, even after their freedom was lost, and after severe rebellions, they finally emerged from the hiding places in which they were hiding, and established a prosperous village at the top of the hill, in the center of which is one of the most magnificent and impressive synagogues known in the region, and even in the whole country."
Finding the branched hiding system may contribute to the decades-old research debate;
Until now, researchers have disagreed on the question of whether the Bar Kochba rebellion also reached the Galilee, or whether it remained in the center of the country.
Researchers Prof. Yanon Shabtiel from Safed Academic College and Uri Berger from the Antiquities Authority date, based on various findings, the internal parts of the hiding system to the days of the outbreak of the second rebellion, and to the insight that some of the ancient facilities inside it were also used during the first rebellion.
"It is not clear if the system was used as a refuge during the second rebellion itself, but it certainly seems that it was prepared for it," they say.
"We hope that further excavations will solve the question."
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Bar Kochba
Archaeology
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