2,000-Year-Old Ritual Bath (mikveh) Found Beneath Western Wall as Conservation Work Begins
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Archaeologists working under Jerusalem’s Western Wall (Wailing Wall) have uncovered a well-preserved mikveh (ritual bath used for purity rites) dating to the late Second Temple period, buried beneath a thick destruction layer from the Roman conquest around 70 CE. The rectangular stone-cut bath measures about 3.05m by 1.35m by 1.85m, has plastered walls and four carefully made steps, and was found alongside pottery and stone vessels used by residents and pilgrims. The destruction layer—ash, rubble and household items—suggests a sudden, violent end to daily life there. Researchers say the find is key to understanding how religious purity laws shaped architecture and daily routines in temple-centered Jerusalem. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation also announced essential conservation and stabilization works across the plaza starting January 18, 2026, aimed at improving infrastructure and safety; a completion date will be announced later.
