Ancient Ritual Bath Moved in One Piece During Israeli Construction Project

During excavation for a new neighborhood in the summer of 2026 in Karmey Gat, southern Israel, archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority discovered a mikveh, a Jewish ritual bath dating back approximately two thousand years to the Second Temple period. Alongside the mikveh, they found stone measuring vessels, which were favored in ancient times because they did not become ritually impure according to Jewish law. The settlement itself was previously unknown to science. According to excavation director Elena Kogan-Zahavi, this is the first confirmed Jewish settlement in this region, situated between the Judean foothills and the northern Negev. Evidence suggests the inhabitants left during the Bar Kokhba revolt in the 2nd century CE and returned during the Byzantine era, about 500 years later.

The 25-ton mikveh, approximately 4 meters wide, could not be dismantled without destroying the find. Four conservators spent two weeks preparing for its relocation. Steel beams were placed beneath the structure, and its plaster was reinforced with gauze, glue, and foam. A 300-ton crane lifted the mikveh, which was then transported on special equipment. "As soon as you lift such a structure, there is no turning back," stated operation leader Eyal Kahu.

The mikveh is currently housed by the Department of National Treasures. Once the new neighborhood is completed, the ancient bath will be returned to its original location and incorporated into the central public space. Future residents will pass by the two-thousand-year-old structure on their way home, highlighting that the land, excavated for modern development, was inhabited long before.