Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed an ancient water system which was modified by the conquering Persians to turn the desert into a paradise. The network of reservoirs, drain pipes and underground tunnels served one of the grandest palaces in the biblical kingdom of Judea. Archaeologists first discovered the palace in 1954, a structure built on a six-acre site where the communal Ramat Rachel farm now stands. Recent excavations unearthed nearly 70 square metres of a unique water system. The infrastructure of the palace was remodelled throughout the centuries to fit the needs of the Babylonians, Persians, Romans and Hasmoneans who ruled the Holy Land. Archaeologists said they added small waterfalls to try to turn a desert into a paradise. For centuries water supplies have been one of the most sensitive issues in the Middle East, where most of the region is desert.