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Archaeologists excavating the Western Wall tunnels in Jerusalem's Old City on Thursday. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 17:48 15/11/2007 Second century Roman road, bath unearthed near Jerusalem temple site By Reuters Tags: Roman bath, Jerusalem  Israeli archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a second century terraced street and bath house which provide vital clues about the layout of Roman Jerusalem. The Israel Antiquities Authority said the 30-meter (90-foot) alley was used by the Romans to link the central Cardo thoroughfare with a bath house and with a bridge to the Temple Mount, once the site of Jerusalem's ancient Jewish temple. "We find bits of Roman road all the time but this discovery helped us piece together a picture of Roman Jerusalem," said Jerusalem regional archaeologist Jon Seligman. "It was a real Eureka moment." Advertisement The Romans razed the second Jewish temple during the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. but later built a colony in the area, and called it Aelia Capitolina. Archaeologists say the street is remarkably well preserved. After clearing away mounds of earth, workers are painstakingly restoring the alley, which runs between walls of ashlar stone and is paved with large flagstones. The remains of the street, which now runs below a sewage channel and offices belonging to the Chief Rabbi of the Western Wall, will form part of Jerusalem's Western Wall tunnel tours for visitors. Archaeologists also discovered the outside wall of a large building which they believe was a Roman bath house because of the latrines outside and pipes which appear to have operated an under-floor heating system. Excavation on this site will begin shortly. The Antiquities Authority said the discovery of the alley, a stone's throw from the Western Wall, may add weight to the theory that the Temple Mount complex was a focal point of Roman life even after the destruction of the temple itself. The complex is also revered by Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and houses Islam's third-holiest mosque, making it Jerusalem's most contested site and giving it a pivotal role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Seligman said the newly-discovered alley once led to an important bridge over a ravine known during the time of Jesus as the Valley of the Cheese makers. Related articles: Archaeologists find link to 1st temple in controversial Jerusalem dig Antiquities Authority: Archaeologists unearth quarry used to renovate Second Temple Archaeologists said to have found site of Jesus' first miracle Bookmark to del.icio.us Organic memory Israeli research is among '50 most significant scientific breakthroughs in 2007.' Floating the PA International donors pledged $7.4 billion to help boost the PA economy .   1.   THE CHEESEMAKERS FROM JERUSALEM 20:40  |  Ueli 15/11/07   2.   Jerusalem in 70 C.E.: You mean 70 years after Jesus` birth 22:34  |  Historian 15/11/07   3.   Historian 23:28  |  Albert Seligman 15/11/07   4.   #2: Judeo -- not christian -- POV here Would you prefer 3831? 00:16  |  Secular historian 16/11/07   5.   Where is the burnt debris? 00:17  |  Techsyn 16/11/07   6.   90 foot wide alley? 00:24  |  Techsyn 16/11/07   7.   Could the mis-location serve to stop const. of the 3rd Temple? 00:33  |  Techsyn 16/11/07   8.   The alley, in the valley, where we used to dally......... 03:47  |  EGW 16/11/07   9.   Maybe 90-Feet Long! 07:11  |  James 16/11/07   10.   # 2 Historian The actual date of Jesus birth 15:38  |  Petra 19/12/07   11.   # 5 the gold was used by rome to build the colisium 17:07  |  Petra 19/12/07

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