In a press statement issued by the Israel Antiquities Authority, IAA archaeologists, working with soldiers and civilians, have uncovered a hidden tunnel complex from the Bar Kokhba Revolt period at Huqoq, Israel.
The Bar Kokhba Revolt was a large-scale uprising by the Jews of Judea against the Roman Empire in AD 132. The revolt was led by Simon bar Kokhbam, which was the last of three major Jewish–Roman wars.
The tunnel complex was found at Huqoq near the Sea of Galilee and was revealed to originally be a water cistern from the Second Temple. During the Bar Kokhba Revolt, the inhabitants of Huqoq dug a series of tunnels from the cistern that connected to eight underground chambers and a mikveh.
According to the researchers, the tunnel system was likely used by rebel forces to escape the Roman army, as several narrow tunnels are located beneath ancient homesteads at Huqoq.
The team also found hundreds of broken clay and glass dishes, an impressive ring with a mount for a precious stone, and numerous fragments of ceramics.
“The tunnel complex provides a glance at a difficult period for the Jewish population in Huqoq and the Galilee region in general,” say excavation directors Uri Berger of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Prof. Yinon Shivtiel of the Zefat Academic College.
“It is a story of residents who, even after losing their freedom, and after many hard years of revolts, came out of hiding in the tunnels and established a thriving village with one of the most impressive synagogues in the area.”
“It is not certain that the complex was used for hiding and escaping during the Second Revolt, but it does appear to have been prepared for this purpose. We hope future excavations will bring us closer to the answer.”
Header Image Credit : IAA
Sources : IAA
