Ancient Jewish Hideouts and Complex from 2,000 Years Ago Unveiled in Judean Foothills

An ancient complex, including escape tunnels used by Jewish rebels approximately 2,000 years ago, has been inaugurated at Khirbet Burgin in the Adullam-France Park, located in the Judean Foothills. The opening ceremony was a joint effort by KKL-JNF, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), and the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council, following extensive excavation, preservation, and development work aimed at making the region's heritage accessible to the public.

Excavations previously conducted at the site by the IAA, led by Dr. Amir Ganor, Alon Klein, and Dr. Peter Gendelman, revealed evidence of a settlement that existed from the Second Temple period through the Ottoman era. During the Second Temple period, a large village, possibly identified with the village of Bish mentioned by Josephus Flavius, was active. In the early Roman period, elaborate underground hideout systems were carved into the rock, used by locals preparing for the revolt against the Romans. The settlement was damaged and destroyed during the Bar Kokhba revolt, after which a pagan population settled on its ruins, building new structures above ground and carving out elaborate burial caves below.

Dr. Amir Ganor described Khirbet Burgin as the largest ancient settlement in the area in terms of its territory and the extent of its remains. For years, the site suffered from intensive antiquities looting, with thieves damaging burial caves, underground systems, and surface structures. The ongoing damage was halted through intensive enforcement operations by IAA inspectors and KKL-JNF personnel, including the capture of looting gangs. This led to the establishment of the Adullam Caves Park, further excavations, and the site's accessibility for public visits.

Minister of Heritage, Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, stated that the findings at Khirbet Burgin are a testament to deep roots and an eternal struggle for the land. He emphasized that the tunnels dug by Jewish rebels are a tangible link connecting past heroism to present sovereignty. KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrovsky highlighted the importance of protecting historical heritage and making it accessible, viewing the site as a collaboration connecting the land's past to its present and ensuring its place in the Israeli narrative.

Avishai Cohen, Head of the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council, noted that developing Khirbet Burgin into an inviting heritage site enhances rural tourism. He described the region as the "Land of the Bible" and stressed the council's efforts to make it a focal point for local businesses, agriculture, tourism, and rural hospitality. Ami Shahar, Deputy Director for Built Heritage Preservation at the IAA, called the project a prime example of fruitful cooperation with KKL-JNF, transforming history into a tangible experience for families and visitors.