The tunnels that lay beneath the Western Wall were discovered by the British in the late 1800s. However, it was not until 1967, upon the conclusion of the Six Day War, that the government of Israel was in a position to begin exposing what had been found.
The job of excavating the tunnels was a delicate task, which required a team of experts. Since the tunnels were located underneath residential neighborhoods, great care was needed to ensure that the foundation of existing homes would not be at risk. Furthermore, since the tunnels were located where the First and Second Temples once stood, great care and reverence was needed due to the sacredness of the site.
The excavation process took over twenty years to complete. During the digging, many great archeological finds were made. The unearthing of these treasures has helped provide details on the history and geography of Jerusalem. From what I've read, walking through the tunnels is like taking a trip back through time. You get a real feel for life in the 1st Century as you view the ancient structures: carved stone, cisterns, roads, and even an aqueduct.
Once the initial excavation was completed, it was decided that the tunnels should be open to the general public. In order to do that, several years of construction had to take place. They required: secure and safe walking paths; air conditioning; signs and lighting. They also had to figure out how to make the tours handicapped accessible. It took quite awhile to get the job done, but now the Western Wall tunnel tours are open to tourists six days a week.
The guided tours take approximately an hour and 15 minutes and are given in English and Hebrew. During the month of August, tours are also available in French. I guess that must be at the peak of the French tourist season?
Even though I suffer slightly from claustrophobia, I definitely plan to take a Western Wall tunnel tour. I think that it is just awesome that so many people - scientists, engineers, archeologists, religious officials, and government personnel, worked together to make this incredible piece of history accessible to everyone.
