Israeli archaeologists have discovered a lengthy tunnel in Jerusalem, thought to have been used by Jews escaping the Roman conquerors.
Around 100 meters of the underground drainage channel - which was buried under the rubble of the destroyed Second Temple in the 70AD Siege of Jerusalem - have been uncovered so far.
According to the Israeli Antiquities Authority, it is likely that fleeing Jews sheltered in the hidden tunnel until they could safely escape the occupied city.
A statement explained: "The channel... is covered with heavy stone slabs that are actually the paving stones of the street. In some places the channel reaches a height of about three metres and is one metre wide, so that it is possible to walk in it comfortably."
The tunnel was Jerusalem's main drainage outlet at the time of the Roman conquest, with the section found thus far stretching north from the Shiloah Pool in the Old City to around ten meters west of the Wailing Wall.
Eli Shukron, an Antiquities Authority representative, added: "It was a place where people hid and fled to from burning, destroyed Jerusalem."
Pottery and coin shards were also found in the remains of the tunnel.
