Discovery of 'Mysterious' Channels in the Ancient City of Jerusalem

A network of ancient channels carved from stone, dating back nearly three thousand years, has been discovered in Jerusalem. This finding has puzzled archaeologists, as such artifacts have not previously been found in a city that hosts ancient religious structures, nor do they have a clear connection to the ancient palace and temple of the Jews that once stood nearby. According to Reuters, these narrow ancient channels, resembling waterways and standing knee-high, date back 2800 years and are located outside the old city of Jerusalem. They were found in two separate groups, 10 meters apart. An official from the Israel Antiquities Authority told Reuters that forensic tests found no traces of blood in these channels, thus ruling out the hypothesis that they may have played a role in the slaughter of animals for feasts or religious sacrifices. This official, who collaborates with Tel Aviv University in Israel on these studies, added that the structure of these channels does not appear to have been designed to flow in a single direction or to drain into a pool or pit, indicating that they were not used as drainage for rainwater or sewage. Yiftah Shalouf, an archaeologist, stated in a joint statement that this discovery is 'mysterious,' saying, 'We looked at this structure and realized we have encountered something unique.' Yuval Gadot, another archaeologist, mentioned that these channels might have been used for producing items 'related to the economy of the temple or palace.' Gadot explained, 'For example, producing [linen] requires soaking flax fibers for a long time to soften them. Another possibility is that dates were stored in these channels to be exposed to the sun's heat to produce 'silaan' (date syrup).' The statement noted that this finding, which is part of the 'City of David' national park, an archaeological complex in Jerusalem, will be open to the public next week.