Cistern/Well Cover

View of a large round stone that covered, protected, the opening to a cistern or well.  Note the large and heavy blocking stone that was used so that only authorized persons could use the water.

Note the incident when Jacob was approaching Haran: Gen 29:2-3 “And he looked, and saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. Now the stone on the mouth of the well was large.  3 When all the flocks were gathered there, they would then roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well.” (NIV)