An ancient well discovered in Tel Aviv. Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority.

JNS.org – Archaeologists recently discovered an ancient well, used during the Byzantine and Islamic eras, during an antique preservation dig in Tel Aviv, Israel Hayom reported.

The well, located in Tel Aviv’s Ramat Hahayal neighborhood, is believed to be between 1,110 and 1,400 years old. Eli Hadad, the dig coordinator for the Israel Antiquities Authority, said the discovery’s importance “sheds light on the day-to-day life of inhabitants of the Yarkon River area 1,200 to 1,400 years ago. These types of water systems were used in Israel 2,000 years ago during the Roman era and onward, though very few have been thoroughly looked into.”

The discovered well is considered an advanced system: Unlike simple wells in which a person lowers a bucket in and pulls it up to bring water out, it operated like a pump and brought the water up. Artifacts of Byzantine-era buildings were found nearby and are thought to be part of the well and water reservoir.