13 Archaeological Discoveries Of 2019 That Filled Us With Wonder

Published December 25, 2019
Updated December 13, 2022

Knights Templar “Treasure Tunnels” Found Under Israeli City

The Knights Templar's Tunnels

Wikimedia CommonsResearchers found a new network of secret Knights Templar tunnels buried underneath the Israeli city of Acre.

In 2019, researchers uncovered an 800-year-old network of hidden tunnels beneath the Israeli city of Acre that may have been built by the storied group known as the Knights Templar. This legendary order of Catholic warrior monks possibly used the tunnels as a secret route to a nearby treasure tower.

The order of these “crusading soldiers of God” was disbanded by Pope Clement V in 1312 after conflict between the knights and France’s King Philip IV came to a head. Nonetheless, years of excavations have shed new light on their work.

The effort was documented in a National Geographic series called Lost Cities that detailed how researcher Albert Lin and his team used LiDAR — light detection and ranging — technology to spot previously hidden artifacts under the Earth’s surface to create accurate 3D maps.

The team looked closely at Acre’s port, where a fortress used by the Knights Templar stood around 800 years ago.

Archaeologist Albert Lin traveled to Acre, Israel to uncover artifacts left behind by the Knights Templar.

“These warrior monks are the stuff of legend, and so is their gold,” said Lin. “During the Crusades, the Knights Templar battle for God, gold, and glory. Somewhere in the modern city of Acre lies their command center, and possibly their treasure.”

Acre was controlled by the Templar for about a century following the loss of their Jerusalem headquarters to the Muslim ruler Saladin in 1187. Some believe the gold they accumulated during their wars — which has never been found — could very well be buried in this newly discovered tunnel system.

author
Marco Margaritoff
author
A former staff writer for All That’s Interesting, Marco Margaritoff holds dual Bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a Master's in journalism from New York University. He has published work at People, VICE, Complex, and serves as a staff reporter at HuffPost.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.