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Last spring, a Palestinian farmer was planting a new olive tree when his shovel struck a hard object. Did.
Experts say the discovery of a mosaic containing 17 well-preserved images of animals and birds is one of Gaza’s greatest archaeological treasures.
The discovery has sparked excitement among archaeologists, and the territory’s Hamas rulers are planning an important announcement in the coming days. There are also calls for better protection of Gaza’s relics.
“These are the most beautiful mosaic floors found in Gaza, both in terms of the quality of their graphic presentation and their geometric complexity,” said Rene Elter, an archaeologist at the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem.
“Never before has such ingenious mosaic floors, graphic precision and color richness been found in the Gaza Strip,” he said.
According to Elter, the mosaic pavement dates from the 5th to the 7th centuries. But he said proper excavations must be done to determine when exactly it was built and whether it was part of a religious or secular complex.
Elter, who has conducted research in Gaza in the past, was unable to visit the site, but viewed a series of photographs and videos taken by local research partners.
Experts are also concerned about the constant threat of conflict with Israel and the continued protection and preservation of ancient mosaics. The mosaic was found just one kilometer, or about half a mile, from the Israeli border.
Elter said the find was in “imminent danger” because it was so close to Israel’s separation fence.
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Such areas along the fence are often the scene of intermittent clashes and Israeli aggression. It fought a fierce three-day battle that included artillery fire and the landing of unexploded Palestinian rockets in the area.
Elter is also concerned that excavations by inexperienced people could damage the site. His hope is that a professional team can properly excavate, restore and protect the mosaics.
“It is imperative to organize emergency rescue interventions quickly,” said Elter.
A narrow enclave in the Mediterranean Sea, Gaza is a treasure trove of ancient and archaeological sites, as it was the main land route connecting Mesopotamia and the Levant in ancient times. From the Bronze Age to the Islamic and Ottoman eras, the coast is full of ruins of ancient civilizations.
However, treasures are rarely protected. In the past they were looted. In recent years, some have been damaged or destroyed by development projects and fighting with Israel. The Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after Hamas militant groups took over Gaza in 2007 has devastated the economy and left few resources to protect relics.
Hamas itself pays little attention to preserving its ruins as it struggles to meet the needs of its rapidly growing population. Over 2.3 million people are crammed into just he 300 square kilometers (115 square miles) strip. In 2017, Hamas bulldozers destroyed much of the site, including the remains of a 4,500-year-old Bronze Age settlement, and built a housing project for its employees.
Earlier this year, bulldozers excavating an Egyptian-funded housing project in northern Gaza unearthed a Roman-era tomb.
Among the few preserved sites in Gaza are the ruins of the Monastery of St. Hilarion, which dates from the late Roman Empire to the Islamic Umayyad period, and the remains of a Byzantine church that was restored by an international aid organization and opened this year in the northern Gaza Strip. .
These sites also have mosaics, but Elter said the latest find in the central Gaza town of Bleij was “exceptional.”
The archaeological department, run by Hamas, described the mosaic as an “archaeological breakthrough” but declined to comment further, saying a formal announcement would be forthcoming.
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The landowner, who refused to identify himself before the official announcement, covered the excavated portion of the mosaic floor with a sheet of tin. I would like to receive compensation for this.
The patch of land that holds the mosaic is about 500 square meters (5,400 square feet), and the mosaic is glimpsed through three excavated sites.
The largest pit in the ground measures approximately 2 meters by 3 meters (6 feet by 9 feet) and features 17 animal paintings. The other two show intricate patterns of tiles. Old olive tree roots have damaged some of the mosaics, and the overall size appears to be about 23 square meters (250 square feet).
Just last month, another Palestinian farmer found a rare 4,500-year-old stone carving while plowing his land in the Gaza Strip.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the 22-centimeter (6.7-inch) tall limestone head is thought to represent the Canaanite goddess Anat and is estimated to be around 2,500 BC.
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“Anat was the good of love, beauty and war in Canaanite mythology,” Jamal Abu Ridha, head of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.