Demonstration of Muon Tomography at an Archaeological Site in Ancient Jerusalem

We present a novel underground imaging system using cosmic ray muons for scanning the underground environment. The first results of measurements at the archaeological site of the City of David in ancient Jerusalem are presented. The system is designed to locate and map underground hidden voids and unexpected deviations in the ground. This is demonstrated by describing initial studies of mapping Jeremiah’s Pit, next to the archaeological excavations at the City of David’s site using muons from cosmic rays. The muons, generated in the atmosphere, penetrate through the ground and reach the particle hodoscope, which is placed inside the pit. This work is the result of an interdisciplinary effort involving archaeologists and physicists who are utilizing this technology to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the biblical period in ancient Jerusalem.