Jerusalem, 26 August, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Archaeologists have uncovered the largest ancient dam ever found in Israel, located in the Siloam Pool within the City of David National Park.
A new joint study by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Weizmann Institute of Science has dated the massive structure to the reigns of Judah’s Kings Joash or Amaziah, around 805–795 BCE.
“This massive royal project shaped the city’s growth, particularly in its southern and western areas, including Mount Zion, which depended on the waters of the Siloam Pool,” noted Dr. Szanton that the discovery sheds light on how ancient Jerusalemites adapted to environmental challenges.
Researchers believe the dam’s construction was an innovative response to a severe climate crisis some 2,800 years ago. The findings, published in the scientific journal PNAS, will be presented at the upcoming “City of David Studies” conference in early September.