Archaeologists discover ancient Jerusalem winery from Second Temple period
Archaeologists said they had discovered a winery and bathhouse, which they defined as a key to ancient Jerusalem. The excited archaeologists said they have found the remnants dating back to the third and fourth century, as well as from the second temple period – findings which were hidden for centuries from several militaries that have set-up military bases on that very site due to its strategic location. “This place was handed to the British and they evacuated all its German citizenship and turned this historical orphanage to a military base.
Later on, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) also inside the orphanage house erected a military base. It was here, until few years ago. But nobody knew, not the German, not the British and not the Israelis, what they are sitting on. When we, the archaeologists, arrived here we discovered here ancient remains dating to the late Roman period the beginning of the byzantine period. I am talking about the third and fourth century CE (Common Era),” Re’em said.
In another area nearby they uncovered a bathhouse and terra cotta pipes and clay bricks stamped with the name of the 10th Roman legion dating back to the Roman and Byzantine period, some 1,600 years ago. “Also, we find remains from the second temple period. We find a very elaborated wine press for making wine. We find here bathhouse, very unique and large.
Bathhouse dating to the Roman period. We find here ritual baths. Numerous ceramics, pottery and glass vessels. We have also an evidence that the Roman tenth legion was here. You know this is a very well-known legionnaire, Roman soldiers. They were when the first revolt of sixty six seventy AD (Anno Domini or Common Era). And the destruction of Jerusalem was here.”
The remains unearthed by the Israel Antiquities Authority and made public this week, are located in the heart of an ultra-orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem called the Schneller Compound, which used to be until recently an IDF medical facility and is located not more than a few minutes’ walk from our TV7 studio.
