Sensational discovery in the Gaza Strip: In the spring, a Palestinian farmer hit something hard with his shovel while planting an olive tree. It turned out to be an elaborate Byzantine mosaic that the man and his son carefully uncovered over three months of work. The discovery sparked enthusiasm among archaeologists.
The mosaic, discovered just a kilometer from the Israeli border in the village of Bureij in the central Gaza Strip, is one of the most significant archaeological finds ever made in Gaza, the Gaza Strip’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said, according to Israeli media reports.
Experts enthusiastic about the quality of the find
The artwork from the Byzantine period shows various animal motifs in bright colors and artistic tile elements. “These are the most beautiful mosaic floors discovered in Gaza, both in terms of the quality of the graphics and the complexity of the geometry and the richness of colors,” Rene Elter, an archaeologist at the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem, told the Israelis . use photojournalists.
According to the expert, the mosaics date from the 5th to 7th centuries. A more accurate dating can only be made as part of a professional investigation. Whether the mosaic was part of a religious or secular complex also needs to be clarified first, said Elter, who has researched the Gaza Strip in the past but examined the find only through photos and videos.
According to the farmer, the plot of land on which the artistic mosaic stands is about 500 square meters. Three holes – the largest, depicting 17 animals and measuring approximately two by three meters – provide insight into the mosaic. The other two show intricate tile patterns.
Parts of olive tree roots damaged
The roots of an old olive tree damaged parts of the mosaic floor, which appears to be about 23 square meters, the farmer says. He now hopes to receive compensation for the painstaking work he has done to uncover the artwork on his property.
The Gaza Strip, a coastal area on the eastern Mediterranean between Israel and Egypt, was an important trading post on the route from the Levant to Egypt in ancient times. Archaeologists have repeatedly made finds here in the past, ranging from the Bronze Age to the Ottoman era. More than 2.3 million people live in the 300 square kilometer Gaza Strip.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
