A team of archaeologists led by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University has made a monumental discovery in the City of David, in Jerusalem. The researchers have unearthed a massive moat that could have been part of Jerusalem’s defenses during the time when the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, nearly 3,000 years ago.
This moat, which is at least nine meters deep and 30 meters wide, was found in the Jerusalem Walls National Park. The finding solves a 150-year-old archaeological mystery about how the ancient city was fortified.
The moat separated the City of David from the Temple Mount and the Ophel area, creating an almost impenetrable barrier with perpendicular cliffs on both sides.
The existence of this structure has been the subject of debate for a long time. Previously, it was thought that the rocky slopes pointing north were part of a natural valley. However, this new discovery shows that, in fact, they are part of an artificial moat.
This revelation has been possible thanks to a careful re-examination of the excavation reports written by British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon in the 1960s. Kenyon noted anomalies in the topography that have now been confirmed as part of this fortification.
Professor Yuval Gadot, from Tel Aviv University, and Dr. Yiftah Shalev, from the Israel Antiquities Authority, explain that it is unclear when the moat was originally constructed. However, the evidence suggests it was used during the Kingdom of Judah, a period that began with the reign of King Josiah. This monumental moat would have served to divide the residential city from the ruling Acropolis in the north, where the palace and temple were located.
The creation of the moat would have been a monumental engineering feat, designed to demonstrate the power of the rulers of Jerusalem to anyone approaching the city.
The discovery of this fortification opens new discussions about the topography of Jerusalem, as mentioned in biblical literature. Terms like “Ophel” and “Millo,” which appear in ancient texts, can now be re-examined in light of this new knowledge. For example, in the Book of Kings, it is mentioned that King Solomon built the “Millo” and closed the gap of the City of David.
According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the discovery in the Givati parking lot is further proof of the city’s architectural legacy.
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