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Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority
The ritual bath
Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority

Archaeologists uncover ancient mikveh with WWII graffiti

Excavations near Beit Shemesh uncover water cistern with carved names of Australian soldiers who underwent training in Israel in 1940.

An ancient ritual bath and an enormous water cistern were recently uncovered in excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the area of HaEla Junction, near Beit Shemesh.

 

 

The 1,900-year-old water cistern was found with graffiti carved on its ceiling, left by two Australian soldiers who were stationed in the area during World War II. Upon noticing that the inscriptions consisted of two English names, the members of the archaeological team conducted a search and inquiry into their identities and are now working towards locating their descendants.

 

The water cistern uncovered near HaEla junction (Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority) (Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)
The water cistern uncovered near HaEla junction (Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

 

Yoav Tsur, the excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a press release, “We uncovered a mikveh in which there are five steps; the fifth step being a bench where one could sit at the edge of the immersion pool. We found fragments of magnificent pottery tools there dating to the second century CE, among them lamps, red burnished tools, a jug and cooking pots."

 

Tsur further added that "apparently the mikveh stopped being used during the second century CE, perhaps in light of the Bar Kokhba Revolt."

 

While clearing the area of the cistern from rocks and sand, the archeologists found the names "Cpl Scarlett" and "Walsh" carved on its ceiling. Next to the names, the initials RAE were etched, along with two numbers – NX7792 and NX9168. The date 30/05/1940 also appeared below the graffiti, the Israel Antiquities Authority press release said.

 

Carvings left by soldiers (Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority) (Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)
Carvings left by soldiers (Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

 

"Since the initials Cpl signify the rank of corporal, we can assume that these were soldiers who wanted to leave their mark there," said Assaf Peretz, an archaeologist and historian with the Israel Antiquities Authority.

 

"An inquiry with the proper authorities revealed that the numbers engraved inside the cistern are actually soldiers’ serial numbers and that RAE stands for Royal Australian Engineers," Peretz added.

 

Excavation site (Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority) (Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)
Excavation site (Photo: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

 

The information matches up with the fact that members of the 6th Australian Division underwent training in Israel during the British Mandate in preparation for combat in France. However, because France fell to German forces before the troops were ready for battle, they were eventually sent to North Africa, where they fought their first land battle.

 

After searching through Australian government archives, the archaeologists were able to discover the identities of the soldiers, the press release stated.

 

One was named as Corporal Philip William Scarlett, who was born in Melbourne in 1918, and was drafted into military service in 1939. He died in 1970. His comrade was Patrick Raphael Walsh, born in 1910 and drafted in 1939. He also survived the war, and died in 2005.

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.07.14, 22:47
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