Cistern #1: How Did We Know?

This hole was punched in the cistern wall in the 1970s to determine what was behind it. Notice how thick the wall is, and the well cover immediately adjacent to the cistern wall. We believe that water was pumped from the well into the cistern, and then up to the cistern in the attic so that it could flow to the servants’ hall sink, the kitchen, and the bathing chamber on the first floor. More information on the cisterns is in the Architecture, Design, and Style: Technology section.