Jewish kitchenware unearthed in Jerusalem's ancient drainage channel

(JNS) - The secrets of the Jewish kitchen dating back two millennia to the time of the Biblical Second Temple are being uncovered in Jerusalem's ancient drainage channel, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Tuesday.

Items such as expensive oils, grape seeds and 2,000-year-old eggshells were unearthed during an excavation-outside the Old City walls-in the drainage channel that ran under Jerusalem's main street during the Second Temple period. 

The ancient drainage channel ran under the colorful markets of Jerusalem at the foot of the Temple Mount, and along the entire length of the City of David.

"Into the channel's mouth were swept the detritus of the life above Jerusalem's main street; where they remained preserved between the walls just as they were at the moment of the city's destruction," explained Ayala Zilberstein, excavation director on behalf of the IAA, which is carrying out the dig with funding from the City of David. "Small finds tell us a big story, from Jerusalem's heyday of prosperity and splendor when its streets bustled with life, until the city's ebbing moments during the rebellion against the Romans, and its total abandonment following the Temple and city's destruction."

In the upper layers of the soil, the excavators discovered remains from the days of the city's destruction in 70 C.E., including complete pottery lamps from the Second Temple period. The soot preserved on their rims remains as a sign of the fire that once burned inside them.

As the archaeologists dug deeper, they uncovered finds indicative of Jerusalem's splendor and wealth during the Second Temple period, the years during which the city hummed with never-ending activity, the IAA said.

"Through this large variety of pots and dishes that accumulated in the drainage channel, we encounter nearly the complete tableware set of Jerusalem's residents," Zilberstein said. "In contrast to the limited set of vessels generally found when excavating a single household kitchen, the channel assemblage is drawn from many houses, and from different streets in town, thus presenting us with examples of almost all wares the city's merchants had to offer."

'Connecting with history'

"In these days, when the word 'destruction' takes on more relevance than usual, there is great value, and it is important to look back into our past to remember where we came from and what we went through, to connect with our history, and thus gain a broader view of our life here in Israel," said IAA director Eli Escusido. "The great wealth of finds reveals to us a magnificent city full of life, which by its nature emphasizes the magnitude of the destruction and engenders our understanding of what was lost."