Church features intricate mosaic floors, farmhouse contains relics showing 2,700 year-old farming practices
A first temple era farmhouse and a 1,500 year old Byzantine church with stunning mosaics have been unearthed in the central Israeli city of Rosh Ha'ayin, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Wednesday.
The 2,700-year-old farmhouse had a total of 24 rooms constructed around a courtyard. The farmhouse sat on a 30x50 meter (98x164 ft) plot of land and in some places, the walls still stood higher than two meters (6.5 ft).
Archaeologists were able to confirm the structure was a farmhouse because a large grain storage silo, millstones for grinding grain and presses for olive oil that were also found at the site.
"It seems that carbohydrates were as popular then as now, and the growing and processing of grain were fairly widespread in the rural-agricultural region," said excavation director Amit Shadman.
Two silver coins the fourth century BCE discovered in the ruins helped excavators to date the site.
"Among the other artifacts that were exposed in the farmhouse remains were two silver coins from the fourth century BCE that bear the likenesses of the goddess Athena and the Athenian owl," said the statement from the IAA.
According Shadman, the farmhouse was likely abandoned during the Hellenistic period, between 323 BCE and 31 BCE.
Hundreds of years later, around the 5th century CE, Christians began to settle in the area, building new communities complete with monasteries and churches.
On a nearby hill, a Byzantine monastery was discovered, which included a church, an oil press, residential quarters and stables outfitted with mangers and troughs, said the statement.
The most notable discovery in the church were a series of colorful floor mosaics featuring intricate geometric designs and inscriptions.
One inscription in Greek reads, “This place was built under Theodosius the priest. Peace be with you when you come, peace be with you when you go, Amen”.
Hundreds of years later during the Ottoman period, the Monastery was abandon and turned into a lime kiln, which destroyed some portions of the complex.
According to the IAA statement, officials have decided to conserve the remains in situ (on site) and will be displayed for the public in communal areas.
Israel is a country rich with archaeological finds. An ancient relic of a ram believed to have been used as decoration for a sixth or seventh century Byzantine church was discovered by the IAA on Christmas eve, and in November, a colorful mosaic measuring some 11 by 13 meters (36 by 43 feet) was unveiled in the city of Lod, believed to have been the courtyard pavement of a "magnificent" villa from Roman and Byzantine times.
By i24news
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