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2,000-Year-Old Mikveh Lifted Whole from Kiryat Gat
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Rescue of a Second Temple-Era Ritual Bath
During salvage excavations for the new Carmei Gat neighborhood in Kiryat Gat, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) uncovered a 25-ton, 4-meter-wide mikveh dating to the Second Temple period. The structure was fully exposed over two weeks, reinforced with steel beams and foam, and then lifted by a 300-ton crane. After detachment, the mikveh was moved on a wide-load vehicle to a storage facility in Beit Guvrin, with the road closed and escort vehicles deployed.
Significance of the Find
The mikveh, together with stone measuring vessels, provides the first direct evidence of a Jewish settlement in the seam between the Judean Lowlands and the northern Negev. Stone vessels, which remain ritually pure under Jewish law, further confirm the community’s adherence to Second Temple-period purity practices. The site appears to have been abandoned during the Bar Kokhba Revolt and later re-occupied in the Byzantine era.
Engineering and Conservation Process
Four IAA conservation staff worked continuously to expose the mikveh on all sides, drill beneath it, and slide steel beams for support. The ancient plaster was protected with gauze and adhesives before lifting. Because of the mikveh’s unusual width, a specialized wide-load transport vehicle and a 300-ton crane were required. The Israel Lands Authority financed the salvage, covering roughly 28 million shekels in excavation costs.
Official Reactions
He emphasized that the operation reflects Israel’s national commitment to preserving heritage amid rapid development. The IAA plans to return the mikveh to its original location once construction in Carmei Gat is completed, integrating it into an open public space at the neighborhood’s core.
Verbatim Quote
“Once you lift up a structure like this, there is no going back,” — Eyal Kaho