Second Temple Jewish settlement found between Jerusalem and TA
Structures may have been used as hideout in Bar Kochba Revolt.
benshemen ruins 298(photo credit: Israel Antiquities Authority)By ETGAR LEFKOVITSA Second Temple Jewish settlement has been uncovered between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, including structures that may have been used as hiding places during the Bar Kochba Revolt, Israel's Antiquities Authority announced Monday.
The remains, found during a salvage archeological excavation by the Ben-Shemen interchange, include two-millennium-old structures, and several Jewish ritual baths or mikvaot.
An elaborate arched structure made of hewn stone at the side of one of the rituals baths was also found fully intact.
Secret passages discovered inside the structures at the site led archeologists to surmise that these were secret hideouts dug during the Bar Kochba Revolt in 132 CE against the Roman Empire.
Similar hiding places have been found in the area in the past.
The discovery of the site clarifies that the size of Jewish settlement in the area was larger than what had been assumed in the past, said Ronit Lupo, the director of excavations at the site.
An assortment of glass vessels, candles, cooking utensils and coins were also found.RECOMMENDED STORIESAt least 63 wounded, one killed after four rounds of Iranian attack slam Israel JUNE 12, 2025Israel trying to persuade US to join in continuing strikes on Iran, sources tell 'Post'JUNE 13, 2025Vacation ruse, phantom trip, hostage decoy: How Israel misled Tehran before Iran strikeJUNE 13, 2025Mossad leads series of secret attack operations in heart of IranJUNE 13, 2025