Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Ancient bathhouse near Moshav Tarum excavated

A BYZANTINE-ERA BATHHOUSE has been discovered in central Israel:
1,600 Year Old Bathhouse Uncovered in Judea

A newly discovered bathhouse may have been used by owners of a wealthy estate or was part of an inn on an ancient road.

By Gil Ronen (Arutz Sheva)
First Publish: 12/20/2011, 11:04 AM

Remains of an ancient bathhouse dating to the Byzantine period were exposed during work being conducted on the modern water infrastructure near Moshav Tarum in the Judean coastal hills. In recent months the Israel Antiquities Authority carried out an archaeological excavation that uncovered impressive finds in the wake of a fifth water supply system to Jerusalem being installed by Mekorot Co.

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A number of ancient bathhouses have turned up in Israel in recent years, including one in Tiberias, the well-known one at Masada, the one in the Jerusalem tunnels (also here), one in Zikhron Ya‘aqov, possibly one at Horvat Tarbenet, one near Kibbutz Gevim, another one in Jerusalem, and one of debatable date in Nazareth. I have also posted a photo of the British Roman bathhouse in Vindolanda here.