Ancient Roman conquest tunnel found in Jerusalem

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2007

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli archaeologists said on Sunday they had discovered parts of an ancient drainage tunnel in Jerusalem that Jews had used to flee from the Holy City's Roman conquerors 2,000 years ago.

"The tunnel, in an excellent state of preservation, was found by chance," said Eli Shukron of the Antiquities Authority, one of the two leaders of the dig.

He said the 70-metre (-yard) stretch was discovered two weeks ago during excavations in the area of the City of David, the site of Jerusalem in ancient times, in what is now the Palestinian suburb of Silwan.

The tunnel is believed to have been Jerusalem's main drainage channel at the time of the Roman conquest in 70 AD, stretching beneath the main road of the city and eventually reaching the Dead Sea,...