Archaeological#7

City of David Archaeological Park

עיר דוד

The City of David is where Jerusalem began. Located on a narrow ridge south of the Temple Mount, this archaeological park preserves the remains of the original Jebusite and Israelite city that King David conquered around 1000 BCE and made his capital. Active excavations continue to uncover extraordinary finds — ancient fortifications, royal seals, a massive stepped-stone structure, and water systems. The star attraction is Hezekiah's Tunnel: a 533-meter underground water channel carved through solid rock in 701 BCE to protect Jerusalem's water supply from the Assyrian siege. Visitors can wade through the ankle-to-waist-deep water in the dark, exactly as it has flowed for 2,700 years.

Ammodramus (Public domain)

Ricardo Tulio Gandelman from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (CC BY 2.0)

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Don't Miss

Wade through Hezekiah's Tunnel — a 2,700-year-old underground water channel
See the Siloam Pool where Jesus healed the blind man (recently excavated)
Explore the massive stepped-stone structure, possibly King David's palace
Walk through the Canaanite tunnel (a dry alternative to Hezekiah's Tunnel)
See the royal seal impressions (bullae) found in the destruction layer from 586 BCE

Hezekiah's Tunnel

In 701 BCE, with the Assyrian king Sennacherib's army approaching Jerusalem, King Hezekiah ordered an extraordinary engineering project: a 533-meter tunnel carved through solid limestone to divert water from the Gihon Spring (outside the city walls) to the Siloam Pool (inside the walls). Two teams of miners started from opposite ends and met in the middle — a remarkable feat described in the Siloam Inscription, now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Today, visitors can wade through the tunnel carrying flashlights, with water ranging from ankle to waist depth. The experience — walking in near-darkness through a narrow, winding passage with cool water flowing around you — is unforgettable.

Ongoing Discoveries

The City of David is one of the most actively excavated sites in the world, and discoveries continue to make headlines. Recent finds include the Pilgrimage Road — a monumental stepped street from the Second Temple period that pilgrims used to walk from the Siloam Pool up to the Temple Mount, now accessible underground. Archaeologists have also uncovered clay seal impressions (bullae) bearing the names of biblical figures, including 'Gedaliah son of Pashur' and 'Yuchal son of Shelemyahu,' both mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah. Each season of excavation seems to produce finds that bring the biblical text to life.