'We Know What It Wasn't': Strange Tunnel Exposed in Jerusalem Near Ramat Rahel. Tunnel up to five meters in height discovered in bedrock near ancient Jerusalem's center, but archaeologists can't figure out its purpose (Ruth Schuster, Haaretz).
"The quarrying was executed meticulously. It is clear that whoever carved this tunnel invested tremendous effort," they say.Mysterious ancient tunnel, possibly thousands of years old, discovered in Jerusalem. Dating and purpose of structure near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel still not clear; archaeologists say its construction required significant resources and manpower (Rossella Tercatin, Times of Israel).For what? "We can say a few things about what it wasn't," Matskevich says. "At first we suspected the whole thing was modern, 20th century. Now we are sure it isn't. First of all, dirt entered into this cavern in stages, so it can't have just been dug recently. But how ancient it is, we can't say."
According to Matskevich, the tunnel was probably built at least 2,000 years ago, in Roman times, and likely even earlier, but they cannot be sure.Background here.
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