Archaeologists uncover intact section of ancient Jerusalem wall from Hanukkah era

Archaeologists in Jerusalem have completed excavation of the longest continuous section of an ancient wall that once encircled the city, potentially uncovering evidence of a 2,100-year-old peace agreement between warring kingdoms. The discovery provides new insights into Jerusalem’s history during the Hasmonean period, the era when the events commemorated by Hanukkah took place.

The recently uncovered Hasmonean wall foundation stretches nearly 50 meters (164 feet) – about half the length of a football field – and measures approximately 5 meters (16 feet) in width. Experts believe the walls that once stood upon this foundation towered higher than Jerusalem’s current Old City walls, which date primarily to the Ottoman period.

According to historical accounts, the Hasmonean fortifications encompassed an area considerably larger than today’s Old City and featured 60 watchtowers exceeding 10 meters (33 feet) in height. This newly excavated section represents one of the most intact portions of the Hasmonean wall foundation ever discovered.

Dr. Amit Re’em, lead archaeologist from the Israel Antiquities Authority, noted an intriguing detail about the find: the wall appears to have been deliberately dismantled to a uniform height rather than collapsing naturally through war or decay. This methodical destruction puzzled researchers, who questioned why anyone would intentionally remove a crucial defensive structure in a region perpetually threatened by invasion.

The answer may lie in ancient historical texts. According to the writings of Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, around 132 or 133 BCE, Hellenistic King Antiochus VII besieged Jerusalem. As the Judean forces struggled, King John Hyrcanus I negotiated a ceasefire by offering 3,000 talents of silver (reportedly obtained from King David’s tomb) and 500 hostages, including his own brother.

“Antiochus Sidetes reached a ceasefire agreement with John Hyrcanus, saying, if you want me to remove my army, you yourself, the Jewish king, must raze to the ground the Hasmonean fortification that you and your father built,” explained Re’em. Josephus recorded that subsequently, they “pulled down the walls encircling the city.”

“We just think that we found the archaeological proof for it,” Re’em said. “It’s pretty amazing, the archaeology and the ancient stories combining together. This is the magic of Jerusalem.”

An alternative theory suggests King Herod may have later built his palace atop the Hasmonean wall foundations during his first-century BCE reign, symbolically asserting his sovereignty over Jewish Jerusalem.

However, some scholars remain skeptical about connecting the dismantled wall directly to the Antiochus agreement. Orit Peleg-Barkat, head of classical archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, points out that other sections of the Hasmonean wall found elsewhere in Jerusalem weren’t dismantled. She suggests this particular section might have been removed specifically to provide a foundation for Herod’s palace, noting it seems unlikely Jerusalem would have remained completely unprotected without any security walls for more than a century.

The wall foundation was discovered beneath an abandoned wing of the Kishleh, a building constructed in 1830 as a military base. This section later served as a prison, including during British rule until the 1940s. Evidence of its prison history remains visible in the form of multilingual graffiti carved by inmates and iron cell bars still embedded in the ceiling.

Archaeologists first began excavating this wing in 1999, but work was halted during the Second Intifada, which erupted in 2000. Excavations resumed just two years ago, with researchers meticulously removing the equivalent of two Olympic swimming pools’ worth of dirt and debris by hand.

The dig also uncovered what appear to be Middle Age-era dye pits, likely used for fabric coloring.

The timing of the discovery coincides with preparations for Hanukkah, which begins December 14 this year. The eight-day festival commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a small group of Jewish fighters liberated it from occupying forces in the second century BCE, establishing the Hasmonean Kingdom. The holiday’s name means “dedication” in Hebrew, and its customs include lighting candles each night and eating fried foods like potato pancakes (latkes) to commemorate the miracle of temple oil that lasted eight days instead of one.

The Tower of David Museum plans to install a floating glass floor above the archaeological site, incorporating the space into its new Schulich Wing of Archaeology, Art and Innovation. The renovations are expected to take at least two years now that the excavation has been completed, allowing future visitors to view this significant piece of Jerusalem’s ancient history.