Warren's Shaft
Encyclopedia
Warren's Shaft is an archaeological
feature in Jerusalem discovered in 1867 by British engineer Sir Charles Warren
(1840–1927). It runs from within the old city to a spot near the Gihon Spring
, and after its 19th century discovery was thought to have been the centrepiece of the city's early water supply system, since it would have enabled the city's occupants to safely reach fresh water (which was otherwise unavailable within the city) even if the city itself was besieged. The narrow and tall shaft was demonstrated to be traversable when a member of Warren's excavation climbed from top to base. Since in the Books of Samuel
it states that David
conquered Jerusalem from its prior inhabitants due to Joab
sneaking up a similar water shaft and launching a surprise attack on the city from inside, it was long thought that Warren's shaft was the shaft in question (with Hezekiah's tunnel having too late a date, and there being no other known candidates).
The shaft is composed of four sections in sequence:
According to a number of archaeologists, the shaft is simply a widening of a natural fissure
in the rock. The 14 metre high shaft, which has a pool of water at the base, is now not actually thought to have been part of the system. In 1998, while a visitor centre was being constructed, builders discovered that there was an additional passageway, about 2 metres higher and starting from the horizontal curved tunnel, that skirted the 14 metre vertical shaft, and continued to a pool much nearer the Gihon spring. The 14 metre shaft is too narrow, and the pool at its base too shallow, to have been functional, and archaeologists now believe that it is merely a natural fissure that the original excavators happened to breach during their dig towards the other pool. The higher passageway was not originally higher—at some point Warren's shaft was lowered (cutting into a geologically distinct type of rock), and ran into the 14 metre vertical shaft.
The pool reached by the higher passage was protected by a large tower, which was also discovered by the visitor centre builders, and is located outside the former city. The pool connects to the Gihon spring via a narrow channel, and the Gihon was itself protected by a large tower (also recently discovered). The pool itself may have been protected by a second tower, but this is uncertain as excavation of the southern side of the pool has not yet been carried out, since it lies under a current residential area.
Ceramics found in the tunnels by these more recent archaeological excavations firmly date the Warren's shaft system, and the tower defences, to at least the 18th century BC. This expressly places it in the time when Canaan
ites controlled Jerusalem, and this, together with the guard towers, expressly rules out the possibility of anyone sneaking into the city in David's time via the shaft: the shaft's exit was heavily fortified, as was the Gihon spring. In essence, conquering the city would have been more a case of capturing the guard towers and holding the city to ransom over its water. Rashi translates "Tzinor" as "stronghold". The Septuagint differs from the masoretic text
: rather than all who wish to attack the Jebusites must strike at them through the water shaft, it reads all who wish to attack the Jebusites must strike at them with their dagger.
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
feature in Jerusalem discovered in 1867 by British engineer Sir Charles Warren
Charles Warren
General Sir Charles Warren, GCMG, KCB, FRS was an officer in the British Royal Engineers. He was one of the earliest European archaeologists of Biblical Holy Land, and particularly of Temple Mount...
(1840–1927). It runs from within the old city to a spot near the Gihon Spring
Gihon Spring
The Gihon Spring was the main source of water for the City of David, the original site of Jerusalem. One of the world's major intermittent springs - and a reliable water source that made human settlement possible in ancient Jerusalem - the spring was not only used for drinking water, but also...
, and after its 19th century discovery was thought to have been the centrepiece of the city's early water supply system, since it would have enabled the city's occupants to safely reach fresh water (which was otherwise unavailable within the city) even if the city itself was besieged. The narrow and tall shaft was demonstrated to be traversable when a member of Warren's excavation climbed from top to base. Since in the Books of Samuel
Books of Samuel
The Books of Samuel in the Jewish bible are part of the Former Prophets, , a theological history of the Israelites affirming and explaining the Torah under the guidance of the prophets.Samuel begins by telling how the prophet Samuel is chosen by...
it states that David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
conquered Jerusalem from its prior inhabitants due to Joab
Joab
Joab the son of Zeruiah, was the nephew of King David and the commander of his army, according to the Hebrew Bible.- Name :...
sneaking up a similar water shaft and launching a surprise attack on the city from inside, it was long thought that Warren's shaft was the shaft in question (with Hezekiah's tunnel having too late a date, and there being no other known candidates).
The shaft is composed of four sections in sequence:
- a stepped tunnel http://www.bibleplaces.com/images/Warrens_Shaft_tb_n031200_wr.jpg
- horizontal but curved tunnel http://www.bibleplaces.com/images/Warrens_Shaft3_tb_n031200_wr.jpg
- a 14 metre high vertical shaft http://www.bibleplaces.com/images/Warrens_Shaft_from_top_tb_n031200_wr.jpg
- a feeding tunnel
According to a number of archaeologists, the shaft is simply a widening of a natural fissure
Fissure
In anatomy, a fissure is a groove, natural division, deep furrow, elongated cleft, or tear in various parts of the body.-Brain:...
in the rock. The 14 metre high shaft, which has a pool of water at the base, is now not actually thought to have been part of the system. In 1998, while a visitor centre was being constructed, builders discovered that there was an additional passageway, about 2 metres higher and starting from the horizontal curved tunnel, that skirted the 14 metre vertical shaft, and continued to a pool much nearer the Gihon spring. The 14 metre shaft is too narrow, and the pool at its base too shallow, to have been functional, and archaeologists now believe that it is merely a natural fissure that the original excavators happened to breach during their dig towards the other pool. The higher passageway was not originally higher—at some point Warren's shaft was lowered (cutting into a geologically distinct type of rock), and ran into the 14 metre vertical shaft.
The pool reached by the higher passage was protected by a large tower, which was also discovered by the visitor centre builders, and is located outside the former city. The pool connects to the Gihon spring via a narrow channel, and the Gihon was itself protected by a large tower (also recently discovered). The pool itself may have been protected by a second tower, but this is uncertain as excavation of the southern side of the pool has not yet been carried out, since it lies under a current residential area.
Ceramics found in the tunnels by these more recent archaeological excavations firmly date the Warren's shaft system, and the tower defences, to at least the 18th century BC. This expressly places it in the time when Canaan
Canaan
Canaan is a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan...
ites controlled Jerusalem, and this, together with the guard towers, expressly rules out the possibility of anyone sneaking into the city in David's time via the shaft: the shaft's exit was heavily fortified, as was the Gihon spring. In essence, conquering the city would have been more a case of capturing the guard towers and holding the city to ransom over its water. Rashi translates "Tzinor" as "stronghold". The Septuagint differs from the masoretic text
Masoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
: rather than all who wish to attack the Jebusites must strike at them through the water shaft, it reads all who wish to attack the Jebusites must strike at them with their dagger.