The Antiquities Authority announces today (Wednesday) that a huge 1,000-year-old moat and a mysterious handprint carved into the rock have been uncovered in front of the walls of Jerusalem. The new parts of the defense system on the walls of Old Jerusalem were discovered during archaeological excavations by the Palestinian Authority on Sultan Suleiman Street.
A 1,000-year-old moat was discovered in front of the walls of Jerusalem // Photo: Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority
Excavations made in preparation for infrastructure and development works by the Moriah Jerusalem Development Company revealed sections of the deep moat canal that surrounded the city in order to protect it, beginning in the 10th century AD, and possibly even earlier.
In one of the sections, a carved palm print was discovered in the wall of the trench, the interpretation of which is unknown.
Sultan Suleiman Street, along which the Nablus Gate and the Flower Gate are located, runs adjacent to the ancient northern wall of Jerusalem.
A huge moat canal about 1,000 years old.
Antiquities Authority findings, photo: Yuli Schwartz, Antiquities Authority
Antiquities Authority inspectors during the discovery of the remains, photo: Yuli Schwartz, Antiquities Authority
Zubair Adavi, the director of the excavation on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, recently excavated the moat that is located just below the street.
"People don't know, but this busy road goes over a huge moat," Adavi noted.
"It is a huge trench, cut in the rock, which is at least 10 m wide and from 2 to more than 7 m deep at the deepest point. The moat canal dates back to about 1,000 years ago, starting in the 10th century AD, and it surrounds the entire city like a ring The ancient city. Its function was to prevent an enemy who was harassing the city from approaching the wall and breaking in."
prevented the enemies from entering.
The giant moat, photo: Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority
"Real hell": the hidden tunnels of the old city
"People know from movies the moat from fortresses and castles in Europe, where it is usually filled with water," Addawi added.
"Here it was dry, but still due to its depth and width, it was a serious obstacle that slowed down the movement of the soldiers."
The impressive walls of Jerusalem and its gates that we see today were built in the middle of the 16th century by the Turkish Sultan Suleiman the First.
"The walls that stood here in the Middle Ages from the 10th century AD were much stronger, and even before that a huge moat surrounded the city walls," noted Dr. Amit Ram, Director of the Jerusalem Region at the Antiquities Authority.
"In an era of knightly battles, swords and arrows and charging horsemen, the fortifications of Jerusalem were formidable and sophisticated, and they included a number of walls and elements designed to stop the large armies that stormed the city. Those who wanted to conquer ancient Jerusalem in the Middle Ages had to pass through a deep moat and two thick walls. All that time , the defenders of the city rained down fire and brimstone from the lines of the walls. It was real hell and if that wasn't enough, the city's fortifications included hidden tunnels, which were also uncovered by the archaeologists of the Antiquities Authority. From these tunnels emerged the defenders of the city who beat the enemy, and in the blink of an eye, disappeared back into the city through those elaborate caves."
"Smell the smoke plumes": a comprehensive military history
"The historians who accompanied the First Crusade describe how the Crusaders arrived here in July 1099," Dr. Ram added. Heavy fire from the city's defenders, both Muslim and Jewish." During the excavations, an ancient, mysterious handprint carved into the rock was discovered on the side of the moat. At this stage, the researchers have not yet deciphered the mystery of the carving.
"We don't know if the handprint was carved as an act of vandalism, a boring prank, or if it symbolizes something and actually points in some direction?", the researchers said.
The director of the Antiquities Authority, Eli Escozido, added: "Many dreamed and fought for Jerusalem. When you stand in front of these archaeological findings, you can understand the magnitude of the events and upheavals that this city went through. You can imagine the bustle of battle and almost smell the smoke. We are almost every day uncovering a piece of the glorious history of Jerusalem, and this time we are witnessing its rich military history. We will make every effort to make it accessible and present to the public."
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