top of page

Mey Kedem is a one-of-a-kind archaeological site located near Moshav Amikam, in an area of natural Mediterranean woodland between Haifa and Tel Aviv not far from Zikrhon Ya'akov and Neymina.

In ancient times, an underground water hole was dug by the Romans about 2000 years ago in order to bring water from the area to the city of Caesarea, which was one of the largest and most important port cities in the ancient Near East.

The plant's planners took into account the height differences, the surface constraints, and the geology of the area and maximally utilized the water quantities, flow and quality. The water was used for drinking, bathing, agriculture, industry, baths, etc.

There are many water sources in the Alona region: springs, springs and streams. The Romans wanted to transfer the water to the city of Caesarea, so they built an impressive water plant that includes a network of canals, tunnels, clay pipes and aqueducts.

From the Zabrin Spring, an underground channel was dug, which is about 6 km long. Later, the water flowed in a low stone channel towards Shoni, in present-day Nimina, and from there it was led over an aqueduct, also called an aqueduct. The water system crosses the Kurkar Ridge under the village of Jasar A in a tunnel Zarka and continues to the city of Caesarea on top of the aqueduct.

The length of the water system is 23 km. The water flows with the help of gravity. The height of the water can reach from feet to thighs.

The Romans chose the route they wanted the female to take, and every 50 meters or so they cut a diagonal shaft into the thick of the earth. In each such shaft two groups of cutters went down, when they reached the level where they wanted the water to flow, one group cut to the right and the other to the left and so they cut under the surface of the ground group against group until they met.

On the female you can see the marks of the carving and the alcoves where the carvers placed the oil candles that were used for lighting.

The quarrying was done with the help of a crowbar and the measurements were made with ancient Roman tools such as an auger, an ancient level, a Roman measuring rod, etc.

A total of 7 shafts and a 280-meter-long hole were restored on the site.

Accessibility

bottom of page