Ancient 2,000-Year-Old Ritual Bath Lifted in Engineering Feat

In a complex preservation operation, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) recently relocated a 2,000-year-old ritual bath, weighing 25 tons, from the southern city of Kiryat Gat to state storage. The mikveh, discovered during archaeological excavations for the new Carmei Gat neighborhood, was moved to protect it from damage during ongoing development work. Following the completion of construction, the mikveh will be returned to the site and integrated into a public space at the heart of the new neighborhood.

The intact mikveh, dating back to the Second Temple period, was unearthed by the IAA, with funding from the Israel Land Authority which covered the approximately $7.5 million cost of salvage excavations in the area. Its discovery provides clear evidence of a Jewish settlement existing at the location around 2,000 years ago. Stone measuring cups, which according to Jewish law do not contract ritual impurity and were thus commonly used by Jews during the Second Temple era, were also found at the site.

According to excavation directors Elena Kogan Zahavi, Me'ayan Margalit, and Shira Lifshitz, the discovered Jewish settlement is the first and only one known in this specific region, bridging the Judean lowlands and the northern Negev. While Jewish settlements from the Roman period are known in the Judean lowlands, none had been identified in this transitional zone until now.

The settlement was likely abandoned during the Bar Kokhba revolt approximately 500 years before a new settlement, with a different population, emerged during the Byzantine period. As development progressed, IAA preservation officials faced the unusual task of temporarily moving the 25-ton, 4-meter-wide structure. A team of four worked for two weeks to excavate and stabilize the mikveh, reinforcing its ancient plaster with gauze and adhesives to prevent damage during lifting and transport. The entire structure was further fortified with foam material.

Moving the mikveh required a massive 300-ton crane due to the distance from the lifting point and a specialized trailer for its width. The transport involved closing roads and using escort vehicles. "Once you lift a structure like this, there's no turning back," stated senior IAA preserver Eyal Kaho, who led the operation, emphasizing the immense pressure and responsibility involved. Minister of Heritage Rabbi Amihai Eliyahu commented that the mikveh adds a significant layer to understanding Jewish settlement in the Second Temple period and praised the IAA's commitment to preserving heritage during accelerated development, noting its future integration will offer a tangible connection to the past for residents and visitors.