Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient dam in the city of David, located in Jerusalem. This site is notably close to the pool where, according to the Bible, Jesus healed a blind man.
The find was announced on August 30, during ongoing excavations near the Siloam pool as part of efforts in Jerusalem Wall National Park.
Rediscovered in 2004, the Siloam pool was a basin fed by the spring of Jihon.
In John’s Gospel, the story describes a blind man who was healed by Jesus at this pool.
As recorded in John 9:10–11, when asked how he received his sight, he responded, “Jesus made mud and told me to go wash in the pool.”
This newly found dam is believed to date back to the 9th century BC, roughly 2,800 years ago. Experts suggest it may have been constructed during the reign of either King Joash or King Amaziah.
This discovery was part of a collaborative research project led by the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) and the Weizmann Institute of Science. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on August 25.
This dam stands out as the largest uncovered in Israel to date and is the oldest known structure in Jerusalem.
Photographs show archaeologists working on the extensive stone structure.
The dam measures approximately 26 feet wide, 39 feet tall, and 69 feet long.
The team was able to narrow down the dam’s construction date to a precise 10-year span by examining twigs and branches embedded in the mortar, indicating it was built between 805 and 795 BC.
David, a project leader, mentioned that this dam might have been a clever response to historical climate challenges, specifically addressing issues like droughts and sudden floods that ancient Jerusalem faced.
He commented, “The dam was intended not just to capture water from the spring of Jihon but also to manage floods in the primary valleys of ancient Jerusalem.”
All collected data suggested a pattern of low rainfall in the region, interspersed with brief, heavy storms that could lead to flooding. Establishing such a significant water management system appears to be a direct response to shifting climate conditions.
In a statement, IAA director Eli Escusido described the dam as “one of the most remarkable and significant structures from Jerusalem’s First Temple period.”
He added, “Jerusalem has been uncovered more than ever in recent years, revealing its various layers, cultures, and numerous surprises that still await discovery.”
Known as a city prominently featured in biblical texts, Jerusalem continues to reveal new chapters of its ancient history.
Earlier this year, remnants of a historical garden were discovered within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a sacred Christian site.
Additionally, a coin minted shortly before the destruction of the Second Temple—an event prophesied in the Gospels—has recently come to light in Jerusalem.
