The site served as a crossroads on the Via Maris linking Egypt ( Cairo ) , Syria ( Damascus ) , and Mesopotamia . From the 10th century onward , it is mentioned as a landmark , a holy place , and a source of water for caravans . From the 13th century there was a settlement in the area , which is mentioned up to the 17th century . At the end of the 16th century , a small khan ( or caravanserai ) was built there which is notable for its solid construction and state of preservation compared to other khans from the same period . Jubb Yussef is mentioned in the middle of the 10th century but the current structure is of a later period . According to travellers , the pit , which had been 10 meters deep , held good drinking water up until the 19th century . Afterwards , due perhaps to the Galilee earthquake of 1837 , the pit collapsed and was no longer cited as a water source . According to 19th century visitors , the pit and cupola were located in a quadrangle alongside a small mosque
Galilee earthquake of 1837
Galilee earthquake of 1837
Jubb Yussef (Joseph's Well)