A Spring Tunnel, Aqueducts and Water-Powered Flour Mills along Naḥal Qeni: A History of Water Exploitation

Naḥal Qeni (Wadi el-Lajjun) is a perennial stream that flows east of Ramat Menashe to Naḥal Qishon, passing south of Kibbutz Megiddo. Along this stream, the remains of aqueducts and flour mills were recorded, reflecting its long-standing importance. From the Roman period onward, the area was settled by a Jewish village (Kefar ‘Othnay), a Roman legionary base (Legio) and a city, Maximianopolis, continuing through the Byzantine period, following as Lajjun (el-Lajjun) during the Islamic, Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods. This paper examines the water sources, aqueducts and mills of Naḥal Qeni, based on historical accounts and modern surveys. It is argued that the aqueducts were first built in the Roman period, and that the earliest mill dates to the Crusader-Mamluk period. Milling activity peaked under the Ottomans before ending in the British Mandate period. These installations illustrate the enduring significance of water in shaping the settlement history of the region.