A rock-hewn mikveh dating to the late Second Temple period has been discovered during archaeological excavations beneath Jerusalem’s Western Wall Plaza. A mikveh is a ritual bath designed for complete immersion in naturally collected water for the purpose of achieving ritual purity.
The find was uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) beneath a destruction layer from AD 70, when Roman forces destroyed Jerusalem. The mikveh had been sealed by ash deposits, providing direct evidence of the fire that followed the city’s fall and the destruction of the Temple.
Carved straight into the bedrock, the structure features plastered walls and four stone steps descending into the basin from the southern side. The rectangular bath measures about 3.05 meters long, 1.35 meters wide, and 1.85 meters high.
The excavation site is situated near two major ancient access points to the Temple Mount: the Great Bridge on the northern side and Robinson’s Arch to the south.
Earlier archaeological work in this area has uncovered several mikva’ot, stone vessels, and other artifacts linked to ritual purification, suggesting that this section of the city catered to residents and pilgrims who needed to observe ritual purity before entering the Temple.
Ari Levy, the Israel Antiquities Authority’s excavation director, said Jerusalem operated as a “city of sanctuary,” where everyday life was governed by strict purity laws. He noted that this is clearly visible in the archaeological evidence, particularly the extensive use of stone vessels, which were considered impervious to ritual impurity under Jewish law.
Minister of Heritage Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu stated that the find highlights how deeply religious practices were woven into daily life in Jerusalem during the Temple period, emphasizing that ongoing archaeological research plays a vital role in safeguarding this heritage.
