The underground water systems of Ma'abarta—Flavia Neapolis, Israel

Abstract

The Roman city Flavia Neapolis (Hebrew-Shechem; Arabic-Nablus) and its predecessor Hellenistic Ma'abarta, is a continuously active city, located close to Israel's water divide. The city prospered due to water abundance from local springs, associated with its setting along the natural outlet of the karstic aquifer of Mt. Gerizim, the holy site of the Samaritans. Complicated tunnel systems were constructed for water distribution and consumption during the Hellenistic-Roman periods. The subterranean systems of the major springs within the city, Ras el 'Ein, 'Ein Qaryun, and 'Ein Dafna, as well as the main tunnel running along the city include rock-hewn tunnels for groundwater collection, and masonry-built tunnels for the distribution of spring water to the city by gravitation, and for drainage. Architectural features and structures below the Roman city indicate that some tunnels had already been constructed during the preceding Hellenistic period. A potential cultic element of the urban hydrographic system can be inferred from the elaborate entrance structures of the large springs, Ras el 'Ein and 'Ein Qaryun, as well as from historic accounts. Documentary references to the subterranean water system indicate that its existence may date as far back as 2000 years ago.

Evolution of water extraction technology (spring tunnels) in the Southern Levant during the last three millennia

“…Downstream from the staircase is a branching system of tunnels draining a short rock‐cut ST. Some of the downstream tunnels are rock‐cut at the base, some of them built and roofed with a barrel vault, and some of them covered with ashlar (Figure 5a), which represent multiple chronological stages (Frumkin, 2018, p. 138). The second spring is Ras el Ein, accessed via a staircase that was part of a Roman spring house roofed with a barrel vault about 9 m high (Magen, 2005, p. 67; Figure 5b and Supporting Information: Appendix : site 40).…”

“…The second spring is Ras el Ein, accessed via a staircase that was part of a Roman spring house roofed with a barrel vault about 9 m high (Magen, 2005, p. 67; Figure 5b and Supporting Information: Appendix : site 40). The third spring is Ein Dafna (Supporting Information: Appendix : site 32); however, the location of the spring head and the exact length of the ST are unknown (Bull, 1965, p. 218; Frumkin, 2018, p. 134). The ST appears to be roofed partly with a barrel vault and partly with stone slabs (Sabri, 2016, p. 52, fig.…”

“…Flavia Neapolis has a complex subterranean water system with an overall length of over 1000 m, fed by several springs, some of which have STs (Aliwi, 2015;Fanni-el, 1999;Frumkin, 2018). The largest of these springs is Ein Kariun, which is accessed via a staircase of hewn stone (Supporting Information: Appendix A.1: site 39).…”

Special issue of Geoarchaeology: Urban geoarchaeology in the Mediterranean Basin

“…That fundamental urban model took root across a wide area. Roman engineers and planners, both indirectly and by design, tamed the environment of the emerging city‐scape by recognizing the importance of accessibility to sustaining urban resources, such as for example, potable water and drainage systems (see Frumkin, ). City planning was initiated on a large scale and included diversification of living areas, centrality of administrative centers, and, as noted, expanded the reach of zoning in a functional sense.…”

“…That fundamental urban model took root across a wide area. Roman engineers and planners, both indirectly and by design, tamed the environment of the emerging city-scape by recognizing the importance of accessibility to sustaining urban resources, such as for example, potable water and drainage systems (see Frumkin, 2018) After the 4th century C.E., neither public nor private resources were available to support restoration of architectural heritage in most cities.…”