Recently, a team of archaeologists discovered a monumental dam in the historic center of the city, marking the site of the ancient pool. Scholars believe this structure was built around 2,800 years ago.
Itamar Berko, the excavation leader from the IAA, stated that this discovery could be linked to the site of the healing of the blind man mentioned in the Scriptures.
According to Berko and his colleagues, Nachshon Santon and Filip Vukosavovich, the dimensions of the structure are impressive, standing over 11 meters tall, more than 8 meters wide, and 21 meters long.
Berko also noted that thanks to high-precision scientific dating, it is now possible to confidently “point to the structure that underlies the construction of the Pool of Siloam, which we previously only knew from the Bible and historical sources.”
Dr. Santon emphasized, “This is the lowest point of ancient Jerusalem. All rainwater essentially flowed here, into this large central reservoir of the city. Without this dam, the water flowing through this channel would simply have gone into the valley – straight into the Dead Sea.”
The Pool was built in response to climate change
“If until now the existence of the Pool of Siloam could only be read about in biblical texts, now we see its remains,” Berko pointed out. He also clarified that the monumental wall of the dam “is dated to the period of the First Temple, during the reigns of Kings Joash and Amaziah.”
Experts studying the find reported that the unusual construction of the wall allowed for very precise dating. Therefore, there were no issues in establishing the age of the structure, as reported by Daily Mail.
Researchers also believe that the pool was built in response to climate change. They learned this by creating a climate reconstruction based on dating and climatic data.
All data pointed to periods of low precipitation, followed by short but intense storms that could cause flooding. “The creation of such large-scale water systems was a direct response to climate change and arid conditions,” the scientists added.
IAA Director Eli Escudido shared his feelings about witnessing the find. “The dam is awe-inspiring. It is one of the most striking and significant structures from the period of the First Temple in Jerusalem, remarkably well-preserved. The discovered dam opens new horizons for research,” the scholar said.