Ancient Wall Unearths Evidence of 2,100-Year-Old Ceasefire in Jerusalem
Archaeologists have recently completed the excavation of the longest continuous section of an ancient wall that once encircled Jerusalem, revealing potential evidence of a remarkable 2,100-year-old ceasefire agreement between warring kingdoms. The discovery, announced this week, sheds new light on a turbulent period in Judean history and offers a tangible link to the story of Hanukkah.
Uncovering the Hasmonean Fortress
Last week, researchers finished excavating the most complete portion ever found of the foundations of the walls that protected Jerusalem during the Hasmonean Kingdom – the era in which the Hanukkah story unfolds. This finding arrives almost exactly one year after Israeli researchers unearthed a collection of ancient coins, hailed as an “archaeological Hanukkah miracle.” Hanukkah, meaning “dedication” in Hebrew, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C. following its liberation from foreign occupation by a small Jewish fighting force and the subsequent rise of the Hasmonean Kingdom.
The eight-day Jewish holiday, beginning this year on December 14th, is celebrated with the nightly lighting of candles, symbolizing the miraculously enduring supply of oil found in the Temple. Traditional foods, such as latkes (potato pancakes), are also enjoyed, representing the oil’s longevity.
The newly uncovered Hasmonean wall foundation, completed last week in Jerusalem, was likely constructed a few decades after the events of Hanukkah by the same rulers. Stretching nearly 50 meters (164 feet) – roughly half the length of a football field – and approximately 5 meters (16 feet) wide, the wall’s foundations suggest the structure itself towered over the current walls surrounding Jerusalem’s Old City.
A Wall Dismantled by Peace?
Much of the existing walls around Jerusalem’s Old City date back centuries to the Ottoman Era. However, the Hasmonean walls encompassed a significantly larger area, boasting 60 watchtowers exceeding 10 meters (33 feet) in height, according to historical accounts. The recently unearthed section represents one of the most intact portions of the Hasmonean wall foundation ever discovered.
What makes this discovery particularly intriguing is the deliberate dismantling of the wall above the foundation. Dr. Amit Re’em, a lead archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, noted that the wall was purposefully and uniformly dismantled to a consistent height, rather than being destroyed by the ravages of time or warfare. This raised a critical question: why would a leader intentionally dismantle a vital security structure in a region constantly threatened by invasion?
The answer, it appears, lies in a complex diplomatic maneuver from 132 or 133 B.C. According to the ancient Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, Hellenistic King Antiochus the Seventh laid siege to Jerusalem and the Judean Kingdom. As the Judean army faltered, Jewish King John Hyrcanus I negotiated a deal with Antiochus, offering 3,000 talents of silver and 500 hostages, including his own brother.
“Antiochus Sidetes (the Seventh) 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,” Re’em explained. Josephus’ writings confirm that after accepting Hyrcanus’ offer, Antiochus’ forces “pulled down the walls encircling the city.”
While other sections of the Hasmonean wall uncovered elsewhere in Jerusalem remain intact, it’s believed this particular section was dismantled as a gesture of peace, and potentially to provide materials for Herod’s palace, according to archaeologist Peleg-Barkat. She added that it’s unlikely Jerusalem was left entirely undefended for an extended period.
From Prison Walls to Archaeological Treasures
The current section of the wall was unearthed beneath the abandoned wing of the Kishleh, a building constructed in 1830 as a military base. This wing served as a prison, utilized by the British until the 1940s, and its walls are covered in graffiti carved by prisoners in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. Remnants of the iron cell bars are still visible in the ceiling.
Today, most of the Kishleh building is occupied by the Israeli police, but the abandoned wing was transferred to the Tower of David Museum. Excavations in this wing began in 1999 but were halted by the violence of the Second Intifada in 2000, resuming only two years ago.
Over the past two years, archaeologists painstakingly removed the equivalent of two Olympic swimming pools worth of dirt and debris, revealing not only the Hasmonean wall foundation but also what are believed to be Middle Age-era dye pits used for fabric dyeing.
In the coming years, the Tower of David Museum plans to install a floating glass floor over the ruins, transforming the hall into a new gallery within the Schulich Wing of Archaeology, Art and Innovation. Renovations are expected to take at least two years following the completion of the archaeological dig.
An “Archaeological Hanukkah Miracle” Revisited
The recent discoveries build upon the excitement generated last December when Israeli researchers unearthed a rare collection of over 2,000-year-old coins in the Jordan Valley on the third day of Hanukkah. These coins, believed to have belonged to King Alexander Jannaeus, the second ruler of the Hasmonean dynasty, were considered an “archaeological Hanukkah miracle” due to their timing and connection to the origins of the holiday.
Adding to the recent wave of archaeological finds, last month researchers uncovered evidence of an ancient religious practice in northern Israel alongside a wine press dating back roughly 5,000 years – one of the oldest ever discovered in the country.
These ongoing excavations continue to enrich our understanding of Jerusalem’s complex history and the enduring legacy of the Hasmonean Kingdom.
