A mysterious carved handprint has been discovered in Jerusalem. But, was it created by a defending Muslim, a terrified Jew, an attacking European knight, or is it just a long-forgotten local prank? Archaeologists excavating in Jerusalem discovered the mystery handprint during an infrastructure project on Sultan Suleiman Street which runs adjacent to the city’s ancient defensive walls.
The handprint was carved into a 1,000-year-old dry moat that at one time circled the entire Old City. Dating back to the 10th century, or earlier, this deep rock-hewn moat measures 10 meters (32.80 ft) deep and between 2 and 7 meters (6.65 to 22.56 ft) wide. Because the moat circled the whole of Jerusalem, its function was to prevent invaders from penetrating the city’s defensive walls. However, the purpose or meaning of the curious carved handprint is currently unknown.
Excavations along Sultan Suleiman Street in Jerusalem. (Yuli Schwartz / Israel Antiquities Authority )
A Formidable Defensive Structure Harbored the Mystery Handprint
The stone walls that protected the Old City of Jerusalem, which are still visible today, were built in the 14th century by Suleiman I the Magnificent , the Turkish Ottoman Sultan. However, it is known that Suleiman built his walls upon the foundations of much earlier fortifications that protected the ancient city’s inhabitants.
A report published in the Times of Israel explains that unlike the water-filled moats that protected European castles , the Jerusalem moat was dry….
