The preserved road—stretching up to six-meters wide and continuing for a distance of approximately 1.5 kilometers—was revealed during an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation conducted prior to laying a water pipeline.

"The road that we discovered, which 2,000 years ago passed along a route similar to Highway 375 today ... was apparently meant to link the Roman settlement that existed in the vicinity of Beit Natif with the main highway known as the ‘Emperor's Road.' That road was in fact a main artery that connected the large settlements of Eleutheropolis (Bet Guvrin) and Jerusalem," said Irina Zilberbod, director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Zilberbod said the construction of the Emperor's Road is thought to have taken place at the time of Emperor Hadrian's visit to the country, circa 130 AD, or slightly thereafter. "The presence of a milestone (a stone marking distances) bearing the name of the Emperor Hadrian which was discovered in the past close to the road reinforces this hypothesis," she said.

Archaeologists said coins were discovered between the pavement stones: a coin from the Great Revolt (67 AD), a coin from the Umayyad period, a coin of the prefect of Judea, Pontius Pilate, dating to 29 AD and a coin of Agrippa I from 41 AD that was minted in Jerusalem. (Photo by the Griffin Aerial Photography Company/Israel Antiquities Authority/via Israel21c.org)

"The ancient road passed close to the Israel National Trail and we believe that it will spark interest among the hikers. The Israel Antiquities Authority and Mei Shemesh Corporation have agreed that the road will be conserved in-situ, for the public's benefit," said Amit Shadman, the Israel Antiquities Authority district archaeologist for Judah.

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