Unearthing Memories: Fascinating Discoveries in the Western Wall Tunnels

"When you touch the ashes left from the burning of the Temple's destruction, you undoubtedly understand Tisha B'Av better," begins Dr. Avi Solomon, an archaeologist dedicated to the study of Jerusalem and the Western Wall Tunnels. Solomon devoted his doctoral research to the ancient scrolls found in Qumran, focusing on Jerusalem. Over the years, he has examined the Temple's structure, the laws of holiness and purity in Jerusalem, and laws related to the Temple's sanctity. Twenty-seven years ago, he joined Professor Dan Bahat as a research assistant in the Western Wall Tunnel excavations. When Professor Bahat retired, Solomon took his place and continued to study the Old City Basin area.

Bustling Jewish Life

"I often say our role as archaeologists here is to make the stones speak to the public. When visitors see burned and broken stones, we explain that this stone was once at the top row of the Western Wall stones, when it was still standing whole. We continue by explaining how it fell during the destruction and ended up among the other stones. The public suddenly understands the magnitude of the ruin that occurred here.

"When visitors see a wall built partly from Second Temple period stones and partly from later stones, with a clear rupture line, the destruction is evident. You can show the public that stones below the line date to the Temple period, while those above are from Roman times and other periods."

Since our Temple's destruction almost 2,000 years ago, many nations have passed through here. "During excavations in the Old City Basin, we had to remove layers of earth from various periods until we reached the Second Temple layer," Solomon recalls, quickly listing, "We began with the modern layer from the last few decades, followed by the Ottoman, Mamluk, Crusader, Byzantine, early Muslim, and Roman periods. Only after removing all these layers do you reach the Second Temple and the destruction itself."

One of Solomon's exciting finds was a series of large mikvehs from the Second Temple period. Pilgrims immersed in these massive baths, illustrating the vibrant life here during the Temple period.

Does being an observant archaeologist give you a different perspective on the findings?

"Certainly. My knowledge of the Mishnah and Halacha provides insight. For example, some scholars argued that certain pools weren't mikvehs but regular water basins due to the absence of a rainwater reservoir, which a mikveh is supposed to have.

"However, when we open the Mikveh laws, we learn that a mikveh drawing its water directly from a spring doesn't require another water pit. The mikvehs in the Western Wall Tunnels were directly connected to an aqueduct from Solomon's Pools near Bethlehem to Jerusalem, making them not just valid mikvehs by Halachic standards but also of the highest purity level."

Mourning Gains Meaning

During this time of the Three Weeks, leading up to Tisha B'Av, how present is the destruction in the findings?

"In excavations about thirty years ago, before my time here, archaeologists found seven ballista stones - ball-shaped projectiles used in that era," Solomon states. "They were found close to the Western Wall, embedded in the floor of a Second Temple period building, likely hurled by Romans towards the Temple Mount or by rebels towards Romans attempting to breach it, or used during the internal Jewish conflict preceding the destruction.

"In another area of the excavation, something stirred us," adds Solomon. "Under layers of dirt, a water cistern showed clear signs of heavy destruction: a layer of ash, burnt wooden beams, and shattered stoneware. We could vividly see the fire and destruction of the Second Temple. It was a place where I can definitely say we touched the destruction." Stoneware was unique to Jews in the Second Temple who diligently followed purity laws, as stoneware does not become impure according to Halacha, despite being heavy and cumbersome.

Solomon notes another discovery of a mikveh which was sealed, topped with a Roman Legion bread oven. "Legion soldiers built this oven on the ruins of the mikveh," he explains. In another section, a Jewish household kitchen from the Second Temple period was found in ruins, buried under layers of dirt with a beautiful stone table leg and remnants of large stone jars.

Not only were ash and char discovered but also echoes of senseless hatred. "The years leading up to the destruction saw a severe internal conflict in Jerusalem. Two Jews, Yohanan of Gush Chalav and Shimon Bar Giora fought, pulling others into their conflict. Yohanan fortified the Temple Mount, Shimon the upper city - today's Jewish Quarter area. According to historian Josephus, in their conflicts, they destroyed parts of a large bridge leading to the Temple Mount," describes Solomon. The Roman Legion later repaired the bridge for their use, clearly visible in excavations showing parts destroyed and others rebuilt by the Roman Legion and subsequent groups.

Decorated wall of a magnificent Second Temple public building (Credit: Western Wall Heritage Foundation)

"Of course, they make an impact," Solomon responds instantly. "When you touch a destruction layer, seeing the destruction's consequences, you suddenly understand mourning's significance on Tisha B'Av much more. All the mourning customs and reduced joy that our sages set gain new intensity."