This tunnel is part of an ancient water system which operated in the area during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
It was designed to meet the growing need for water, both for drinking and agriculture, caused by the rapid increase in the population of Caesarea.
Beginning at the Ein Tzabarin Springs, in the hills north east of Cesaria, the water was carried over a distance of 23 Kilometers by means of a network of canals, tunnels, clay pipes and aqueducts to the port of Cesaria on the coastal plain.
The architects of the water system had to deal with a formidable set of problems resulting from the difficulties of the terrain, the local geology and variations in height. Based on their in depth knowledge of the topography of the area they were able to solve these problems by taking advantage of the natural flow of the water underground.
Starting at the bottom of the hill, they dug a 6 kilometers tunnel horizontally into the hillside to reach the natural springs located at Ein Tzabarin.
