The Nahal Sekhakha Tunnels: An Ancient Water Engineering Project in the Judean Desert?

In 1958, Professor Yigael Yadin—the renowned archaeologist and Israel’s second Chief of Staff—wrote in his article on water supply in times of peace and siege: “There are regions where water arrives only in the form of sudden flash floods that quickly pass, leaving behind a thirsty land. Such is the Negev. Following torrential rains in the mountains, powerful streams rush through the wadis and disappear almost as quickly as they appear. Humanity’s task is to gain control over these water sources—groundwater and rainwater—in order to organize their distribution across extensive areas.”

A few months ago, I visited Nahal Sekhakha in the Hurqania Valley of the Judean Desert. There I encountered two remarkable tunnels cut diagonally into the mountain, extending in opposite directions. My immediate thought was that they might somehow be connected to water.

Perhaps that idea was influenced by my own background. During Israel’s waiting period before the Six-Day War in May 1967, the adults in my kibbutz were called up for military reserve duty. Those of us about to graduate from high school replaced them in essential civilian roles, and I became responsible for the kibbutz’s irrigation and water systems. Since then, I have maintained a lifelong interest in water management, irrigation, and water resources.

Nearly two decades have passed since the archaeological excavations at Nahal Sekhakha ended in 2007, yet no consensus has emerged regarding the purpose of these extraordinary tunnels. The mystery remains unresolved.

The following article does not claim to present a proven archaeological conclusion. Rather, it proposes a hypothesis that developed after visiting the site, reviewing the archaeological literature, and drawing upon decades of practical experience in water management. Its purpose is not to determine the tunnels’ original function, but to suggest a new research direction that could eventually be examined through archaeology, geology, hydrology, engineering simulations, and field experiments.

A Mystery That Has Endured for Decades

The history of the site is almost as fascinating as the tunnels themselves. Unauthorized excavations began as early as the 1950s. Later, Bob Morgan, an American Vietnam War veteran and pilot, became convinced that treasures described in the famous Copper Scroll, discovered near Qumran and popularized by British archaeologist John Allegro, were hidden inside these tunnels.

Beginning in 1986, Morgan spent nearly twenty years excavating the site, initially with only a handful of companions. He hid from Israeli military tanks conducting exercises in the area, confronted Bedouin looters, and gradually became something of a real-life Indiana Jones of the Judean Desert.

In 1999, archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem joined the excavations. Yet even after the official project concluded in 2007, no definitive explanation emerged for the tunnels’ purpose. What is known is that two tunnels were carved into the mountainside at the point where the narrow canyon of Nahal Sekhakha opens toward the Hurqania Valley.

The northern tunnel extends approximately 60 meters, descending westward at a steep angle of about 60 degrees to a depth of roughly 50–53 meters.

The southern tunnel descends eastward at a gentler angle of about 30 degrees. It extends approximately 100 meters before splitting into two short branches, giving it a total length of nearly 120 meters while reaching approximately the same depth as the northern tunnel.

The entrance to the northern tunnel lies about one meter above the wadi floor, whereas the southern entrance is located roughly two meters above the wadi floor.

Existing Explanations

Over the years, several theories have been proposed regarding the tunnels’ purpose. Some researchers suggested they served as a sanctuary dedicated to the sun god, similar to a tunnel discovered in Turkey. Others proposed that they were exploratory........

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