ON THE COVER: Underneath Maresha lies this ancient cave, hewn in the third century B.C.E. to serve as a cistern, in which water was diverted from the roofs and streets above. Throughout the Hellenistic period at Maresha (332–112 B.C.E.), an underground warren of such caves—containing pigeon hatcheries, olive oil factories, stables and cisterns—supported the city residents living above. In
“Underground Metropolis—The Subterranean World of Maresha,” dig director Amos Kloner reports on the recent excavation and restoration of Maresha’s industrial center and adjacent burial grounds—now the centerpiece of a national park.