Archaeologists have made an extraordinary discovery in Nahal ‘Amal: a hidden network of underground tunnels that once powered the sugar industry of the Mamluk Empire in the 14th–15th centuries. ⚒️🕰️These tunnels were ingeniously designed to channel brackish water 💧 to operate mechanical paddle wheels, which crushed sugarcane for processing. This highlights the advanced engineering skills of the Mamluks, who adapted to the semi-arid landscape 🌵🌊 to sustain large-scale sugar production. Prof. Amos Frumkin and his team at Hebrew University of Jerusalem explained that the hydraulic system was dual-purpose: providing water for irrigation 🚰 and powering industrial machinery ⚙️. After the sugar industry declined, the tunnels and mills were repurposed for grain milling, demonstrating their long-lasting utility 🌾.The discovery not only sheds light on the technological sophistication of the Mamluk Empire 🏗️💡 but also emphasizes the Bet She’an Valley 🌿 as a hub of medieval mechanized production. It reshapes our understanding of how the Mamluks combined innovation, infrastructure, and natural resources to thrive economically and industrially. 🌍🏛️This finding is a remarkable glimpse into the hidden industrial world of the medieval Middle East, where water, rock, and ingenuity created one of history’s earliest mechanized sugar industries. 🍬💦
