2000 YEAR OLD JEWISH RITUAL BATH (MIKVAH) DISCOVERED UNDER A HOUSE LIVING ROOM IN JERUSALEM - It was found during house renovations

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I just posted an article on the latest spy-tech gadgets exhibited at the Israeli Spy Expo.  But aside from being a top country in technology and science innovation, Israel also lives with real antiquities from its thousands of years old civilization. 

Two thousand-year old Jewish ritual bath discovered under a Jerusalem home living room 

A two thousand year old ritual bath (mikva) was recently discovered beneath a living room floor during renovations of a private home in the Ein Kerem neighborhood of Jerusalem. 

The mikva, fully complete and quite large, is rock-hewn and meticulously plastered according to the Jewish laws of purity. A staircase leads to the bottom of the immersion pool.

Pottery vessels dating to the Second Temple period (first century CE) and traces of fire that might constitute evidence of the Temple's destruction between 66-70 CE were discovered inside the bath.

In addition, fragments of stone vessels were found. Stone was a common material used during the Second Temple period because it cannot be contaminated and remains pure.

Continue reading and see photos of the living room

Owners kept the existence of this ancient Jewish bath secret until now.

On Wednesday, the owners of the house were presented a certificate of appreciation by the Israel Antiquities Authority for exhibiting good citizenship by reporting the discovery of the mikva and thereby contributing to the study of the Land of Israel. 

Archaeologists said the discovery in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem neighborhood shines new light on ancient Jewish and early Christian communities in the area.

But the discovery might be most noteworthy because the couple that owns the home literally kept the treasure hidden under a rug for three years before choosing to come clean. 

In an interview, the wife said the family found evidence of the mikvah, or Jewish ritual bath, while renovating their home three years ago. Construction workers were using heavy machinery that sunk through a hole, leading the crew to discover the bath.  

She said that she and her husband were unsure of the significance and continued with the planned construction. But they also preserved the discovery, adding a pair of wooden doors in the floor to allow access to the bath and concealing the entrance with a rug.  

The couple's curiosity, however, persisted. Earlier this week, they contacted the Israeli Antiquities Authority and reported their finding. The family asked that their names be withheld to protect their privacy.

According to Amit Re'em, a Jerusalem District Archaeologist, stressed that "such instances of finding antiquities beneath a private home can happen only in Israel and Jerusalem in particular." 

"Beyond the excitement and the unusual story of the discovery of the mikve, its exposure is of archaeological importance," Re'em explained.

"Ein Kerem is considered a place sacred to Christianity in light of its identification with “a city of Judah” – the place where according to the New Testament, John the Baptist was born and where his pregnant mother Elisabeth met with Mary, mother of Jesus.

"Despite these identifications, the archaeological remains in Ein Kerem and the surrounding area, which are related to the time when these events transpired (the Second Temple period), are few and fragmented."

"The discovery of the ritual bath reinforces the hypothesis there was a Jewish community from the time of the Second Temple located in the region of what is today Ein Kerem.”

Gazing at this ordinary living room, one would have never guessed of the archaeological treasure underneath.

 

Sources
http://phys.org/news/2015-07-israeli-family-ancient-treasure-room.html

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/197541#.VZQnj5tRGM8

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/2000-year-old-mikvah-found-beneath-jerusalem-living-room/2015/07/01/

RELATED

More on the Mikveh, according to Jewish law (long article)
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/why-immerse-in-the-mikveh/


The ancient coexist alongside the new in everyday life in Israel: 
Spy expo in Israel shows the latest spy tech gadgets
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2015/07/the-latest-spy-gadgets-on-israeli-spy.html

 

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In spite of history, in spite of international law, and in spite of the existing material evidence of the Jewish history of Israel, in particular of Jerusalem, the Obama administration has been waging a war against Israel's legal right to Jerusalem.


OBAMA DENIES ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY OVER JERUSALEM

SUPREME COURT BOWS TO OBAMA

THE US SUPREME COURT GANGS UP WITH OBAMA AND THE ANTI-SEMITIC WORLD by dealing giant blow against Israel

Court dismisses US Congress law recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel, thus empowering the Muslim conquerors and occupiers' claim to the ancient Jewish capital

U.S. SUPREME COURT rules that Americans born in Jerusalem may not list Israel as their country of birth.

Read more
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2015/06/israeli-sovereignty-over-jerusalem.html

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