{
  "id": 7987163,
  "title": "How to move an ancient mikvah? Inside the IAA's operation to conserve a Second Temple ritual bath",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/how-to-move-an-ancient-mikvah-inside-the-iaas-operation-to-conserve-a",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-17T08:44:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-908879"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) recently completed a challenging engineering operation to preserve a Second Temple-era mikvah discovered during excavations in the Carmei Gat neighborhood of Kiryat Gat. The 2,000-year-old structure will be safeguarded from potential harm during upcoming construction and development projects. The mikvah, along with stone measuring vessels, confirms the presence of a Jewish settlement in the area at the time, making it the first and only known settlement in this area. The ancient settlement is believed to have been abandoned by its Jewish inhabitants during the Bar Kokhba Revolt in the second century CE and later revived by a different population during the Byzantine period. To transfer the 25-ton mikveh, IAA's Conservation Administration needed to dismantle and support the structure, reinforcing it with steel beams, foam, and gauze to protect it during the journey. Due to the distance between the crane's base and the mikveh, a 300-ton lifting capacity crane was necessary, along with a wide-load transport vehicle. Once the mikveh is moved to the nearby Beit Guvrin storehouse, it will be reintegrated into an open public space in the new neighborhood, providing residents and visitors with a tangible link to Jewish life from 2,000 years ago.",
  "summary": "Discovering the mikvah, as well as stone measuring vessels, provides direct evidence of the existence of a Jewish settlement in the area at the time.",
  "key_points": [
    "IAA completes engineering operation to preserve 2,000-year-old mikvah",
    "25-ton structure dismantled and reinforced with steel beams, foam, and gauze",
    "Mikvah to be moved to Beit Guvrin storehouse for public display"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}