Ancient 25-Ton Ritual Bath Relocated in Kiryat Gat Operation
A 2,000-year-old, 25-ton ritual bath from the Second Temple period was relocated in a complex engineering operation in Kiryat Gat by the Israel Antiquities Authority.
A 2,000-year-old ritual bath weighing approximately 25 tons has been successfully relocated from the Carmei Gat neighborhood in Kiryat Gat. The complex engineering operation was carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority to preserve the rare archaeological finding.
Discovery of a Second Temple Era Settlement
The ritual bath, known as a mikveh, was discovered during excavations funded by the Israel Land Authority. The find provides physical evidence of a previously unknown Jewish settlement from the Second Temple period in this specific region.
Excavations at the site also uncovered stone measuring cups commonly used by Jews during the Second Temple period, chosen because Jewish law dictates that stone vessels cannot become ritually impure. According to excavation directors Elena Kogan-Zehavi, Maayan Margolis, and Shira Lipschitz, this represents the first recognized Jewish settlement in this transitional zone between the Judean foothills and the northern Negev desert.
The Complex Relocation Operation
To prevent the destruction of the ancient structure amid local development plans, the Israel Antiquities Authority decided to temporarily relocate the mikveh to state repositories. It will eventually be returned and integrated into a public space within the neighborhood.
The intricate preservation process took about two weeks. Workers excavated around the structure, inserted steel beams underneath for structural support, and reinforced the ancient plaster with gauze, adhesives, and foam. Due to logistical constraints, a 300-ton crane and a specialized wide-load transport vehicle were required to move the 25-ton structure.
"The moment you lift a structure like this, there is no turning back," said Eyal Cacho, a senior conservator at the Israel Antiquities Authority who led the operation. "If it falls apart, we've lost the mikveh. That is why you have to think about every detail in advance."
The rescue excavations cost approximately 28 million shekels, funded by the Israel Land Authority. Following the completion of local development works, the mikveh is expected to return to Carmei Gat for public exhibition.
