Howdy GtoRA2,
Originally posted by GtoRA2
How did they find it? Accidently nock down the side of the tunnel or something?
A friend of mine who has been on digs throughout Palestine commented that it is virtually impossible to dig a hole in Israel without uncovering an artifact, so any major construction work or excavation, especially in Jerusalem, has Archeologists alongside to make sure that 1000s of years of history aren't wiped out by a civil engineering project.
The full story of the discovery by two Israeli Archeologists is available online here (along with more pictures):
Pool of Siloam Discovery "As with so much in archaeology, it was stumbled on, not part of a planned excavation. In June 2004 archaeologists Ronny Reich and Eli Shukron were digging in the area of the Gihon Spring where Hezekiah’s Tunnel begins. Far to the south, between the end of the rock ridge that forms the City of David and a lush green orchard that is often identified as the Biblical King’s Garden, is a narrow alley through which a sewer pipe runs carrying waste from the valley west of the City of David into the Kidron Valley east of the City of David. The city authorities needed to repair or replace this sewer and sent workers with heavy equipment to do some excavating. Eli was watching the operation, when suddenly he saw two steps appear. He immediately halted the work and called Ronny, who came rushing down. As soon as Ronny saw the steps, he exclaimed, “These must be steps going down to the Pool of Siloam during the Second Temple Period.
...
Many times archaeologists are unsure of the date of what they find. But in this case, there is no question. Ideally, archaeologists want two dates: the date of construction and the date when the facility went out of use. Here the archaeologists are fortunate to have both. The pool had two phases. The stone steps are part of the second phase. Under the stone steps and in
places where the stones are missing, the excavators were able see that in the first phase the steps were plastered. Only in the second phase were the steps faced with stones. The excavators went over the early steps with a metal detector, and in four places it beeped, revealing four coins in the plaster. These coins would date the first phase of the pool. They were all coins of Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 B.C.), one of the later Hasmonean (Jewish) kings who were succeeded in 37 B.C. by Herod the Great. The excavators cannot be sure precisely how long these coins were in circulation before being embedded in the plaster of the first phase of the Pool of Siloam. But they can say with some assurance that the pool was constructed in the late Hasmonean period or early Herodian period. They may know more precisely if they dig under the steps and find a coin from Herod’s time. Then the pool would be Herodian. We also know from coins how long the pool was in use. Near one corner of the pool they excavated part of a plaza or terrace and found nothing but late Second Temple pottery (which ended with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.). Most significantly, they found a dozen coins from the period of the First Jewish Revolt against Rome. The revolt lasted from 66 to 70 A.D. The excavated coins date from years 2, 3 and 4 of the revolt. The pool was therefore used until the end of the revolt, after which it was abandoned." - Biblical Archeology Review, Sept/Oct.
Dredlock, As for how it covered up, time and tide cover everything with dust eventually. But in this case, most of ancient Jerusalem's landmarks were destroyed and covered over after the Romans sacked the city and laid it waste in 70 AD during the Jewish revolt. As a result a lot of history was literally covered over suddenly in the way that only catastrophes can.
Modern Jerusalem is literally built on the rubble of several ancient Jerusalems.
- SEAGOON
