‘One of Gaza’s greatest archaeological treasures’ found by Palestinian farmer
- The discovery is drawing calls for stronger protection of Gaza’s antiquities, which are at risk of conflict between Israeli, Palestinian militants
- Gaza’s coastal strip is full of remains of ancient civilisations, from the Bronze Age to the Islamic and Ottoman eras
Last spring, a Palestinian farmer was planting a new olive tree when his shovel hit a hard object. He called his son, and for three months, the pair slowly excavated an ornate Byzantine-era mosaic that experts say is one of the greatest archaeological treasures ever found in Gaza.
The discovery has set off excitement among archaeologists, and the territory’s Hamas rulers are planning a major announcement in the coming days.
But it is also drawing calls for better protection of Gaza’s antiquities, a fragile collection of sites threatened by a lack of awareness and resources as well as the constant risk of conflict between Israel and local Palestinian militants.
The mosaic was uncovered just a from the Israeli border. The floor, boasting 17 iconographies of beasts and birds, is well-preserved and its colours are bright.
“These are the most beautiful mosaic floors discovered in Gaza, both in terms of the quality of the graphic representation and the complexity of the geometry,” said René Elter, an archaeologist from the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem.