A team of archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority has discovered a 1,000-year-old Crusader building in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.

The building was a busy hospital during the Crusader period (1099 – 1291 CE), according to the archaeological team.

“The structure seems to extend across an area of 15,000 square meters. Its construction is characterized by massive pillars and ribbed vaults, and it stands more than 6 meters high.”

“We have learned about the hospital from contemporary historical documents, most of which are written in Latin. These mention a sophisticated hospital that is as large and as organized as a modern hospital,” explained excavation directors Dr Renee Forestany and Dr Amit Reem from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

“The hospital was established and constructed by a Christian military order named the Order of St. John of the Hospital in Jerusalem and known by its Latin name the Hospitallers from the word hospital. These righteous warriors took an oath to care for and watch over pilgrims, and when necessary they joined the ranks of the fighters as an elite unit.”

The hospital was comprised of different wings and departments according to the nature of the illness and the condition of the patient – similar to a modern hospital. In an emergency situation the hospital could accept as many as 2,000 patients.

“The Hospitallers treated sick men and women of different religions. There is information about Crusaders who ensured their Jewish patients received kosher food,” the archaeologists explained.

“We can learn about the size of the hospital from contemporary documents. One of the documents recounts an incident about a staff member who was irresponsible in the performance of his work in the hospital. That person was marched alongside the building awhile, and the rest of the staff, with whips in hand, formed a line behind him and beat him. This spectacle was witnessed by all of the patients.”

The Ayyubid ruler Saladin lived near the hospital following the defeat of the Crusaders, and he also renovated and maintained the structure. He permitted ten Crusader monks to continue to reside there and serve the population of Jerusalem.

“The building collapsed in an earthquake that struck in 1457 CE and was buried beneath its ruins, which is how it remained until the Ottoman period.”