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JUC Community Explores Jerusalem’s Western Wall Tunnels
JUC community members explore the Western Wall Tunnels and the engineering of Second Temple Jerusalem.
Members of the Jerusalem University College campus community explored the Western Wall Tunnels in early October 2026, examining archaeological remains beneath the streets of Jerusalem’s Muslim Quarter.
Led by an Israeli tour guide, the group walked through tunnels that reveal portions of the Western Wall extending below present-day street level. The visit provided an opportunity to consider the monumental building projects undertaken during the reign of Herod the Great, including the expansion of the Temple Mount platform.
The group examined the massive dressed stones that supported the expanded platform. The newsletter described one particularly large stone as approximately 13.6 meters long and 3.3 meters high, with an estimated weight of 500 to 570 metric tons.
Participants also observed water cisterns preserved within the complex and concluded their visit at the Struthion Pool, a large reservoir associated with the Hasmonean period and later use under Herod.
The outing connected Jerusalem’s visible cityscape with the substantial architectural remains beneath it, offering participants a closer look at the engineering and history of the Second Temple period.