The Water System at Gibeon

Evolution of water extraction technology (spring tunnels) in the Southern Levant during the last three millennia

“…Appendix A.1. Pritchard, 1961Pritchard, , p. 5, 1962Shiloh, 1992;Yechezkel, 2022, p. 282) (note: throughout this paper, "Jerusalem" refers to Jerusalem's Old City). The ST comprises a hewn, 37-m-long winding subhorizontal tunnel, accessed from within the Iron Age city's fortifications by an inclined tunnel with steps.…”

“…Probably the most ancient ST worldwide is located at Gibeon (presently Al‐Jib). Dated around the 10th century B.C.E., this Ein (spring) el‐Balad ST feeds the water system known as the “Stepped Tunnel of Gibeon,” ~10 km northwest of Jerusalem (Supporting Information: Appendices : site 24 and : site 1; Ein Mor & Ron, 2016; Pritchard, 1961, p. 5, 1962, p. 63; Shiloh, 1992; Yechezkel, 2022, p. 282) (note: throughout this paper, “Jerusalem” refers to Jerusalem's Old City). The ST comprises a hewn, 37‐m‐long winding subhorizontal tunnel, accessed from within the Iron Age city's fortifications by an inclined tunnel with steps.…”

Hydrogeological insights in antiquity as indicated by Canaanite and Israelite water systems

“…The water system and its vertical shaft were located in the southern part of the mound due to its close proximity to the nearby Hazor springs. In this it is similar to other water systems in the Iron-Age in Israel, which were located as close as possible to the nearby water source at the foot of the mound (Lamon, 1935;Pritchard, 1961;Herzog, 2002). At an altitude of about 202 m above m.s.l, the sloping tunnel was A v e d a t G r .…”

“…In all water systems in the City of David, in Jerusalem (Reich and Shukron, 2004;Shiloh, 1992;Gill, 1991;Frumkin et al, 2003;Frumkin and Shimron, 2006) and in Megiddo (Lamon, 1935), the engineering mission was to connect the cities with outside springs via shafts and tunnels; hydrogeological considerations were hardly involved. In Gibeon (Pritchard, 1961), the tunnel dug at the bottom of the ''pool'' was unequivocally directed to reach a spring, not the groundwater, which was encountered a few meters from the spring (Cole, 1980). In Gezer -where dating is controversial (Macalister, 1912;Yadin, 1969;Dever, 1969) -the tunnel reached groundwater collected in a natural cave, which might has a connection outside the mound (Reich and Shukron, 2003) (Fig.…”

Polemical propaganda of the Golah community against the Gibeonites: Historical background of Joshua 9 and 2 Samuel 21 in the early Persian Period

“…27 Many scholars, such as Pritchard, Stern, Na'aman, and Lipschits, have also argued that Gibeon appeared to be in the last stages of decay in the early fifth century and was devoid of settlement until the Hasmonean period. 28 Given that a shift in material culture from one distinct period to the next usually takes approximately 50 years, it can be concluded that Gibeon was occupied from the eighth century to the beginning of the fifth century.…”