In the northern Gaza Strip, scientists have unearthed a Roman-era cemetery. “So far, 51 Roman tombs from the first century have been found,” excavation team leader Fasl al-Atal told media. “We expect to find 75 to 80 graves in total,” he added.
At the beginning of this year, 31 graves were discovered during construction work near the town of Beit Lahia. The construction project was suspended and a team from the local Ministry of Antiquities was dispatched. The 2,000-year-old cemetery is not far from the ruins of the Greek port city of Anthedon on the way to ancient Ascalon, the current Israeli city of Ashkelon on the border with the Gaza Strip.
Jamal Abu Reda of the Ministry of Antiquities said the site was of “great importance” and possibly an “extension” of ancient Anthedon, a city on the coast of Palestine (in present-day Gaza).
Archeology is a highly political issue in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Some discoveries have been used in the past to establish territorial claims respectively.
Due to the Israeli blockade since the takeover of power by the radical Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the exploration and tourist use of archaeological sites there has been restricted.
Source: Krone
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