Last spring, a Palestinian farmer was planting a new olive tree when his spade hit a hard object. He called his son, and over three months, the pair slowly excavated an elaborate Byzantine-era mosaic. Experts say the discovery of the mosaic – which includes 17 well-preserved images of animals and birds – is one of Gaza’s greatest archaeological treasures. The discovery has excited archaeologists, and Hamas leaders in the area are planning a major announcement in the coming days. But it also calls for better protection of Gaza’s antiquities, a fragile collection of sites threatened by a lack of awareness and resources. “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 School of Biblical and Archeological Studies in Jerusalem. “Never before have mosaic floors of this finesse, precision in graphics and richness of color been discovered in the Gaza Strip,” he said. Elder says the mosaic pavement dates to the time between the 5th and 7th centuries. However, he said a proper excavation needs to be carried out to find out exactly when 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 saw a number of photos and videos taken by local research partners. A Palestinian sweeps dust from parts of a Byzantine-era mosaic floor uncovered by a farmer in Bureij in the central Gaza Strip, September 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) Experts are also concerned about the constant threat of conflict with Israel and the continued protection and preservation of the ancient mosaic. The mosaic was discovered just one kilometer, or about half a mile, from the Israeli border. Elter said the discovery is in “imminent danger” because it is so close to the Israeli separation fence. ISRAEL ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER LUXURIOUS 1,200-YEAR-OLD MANSION DURING EXCAVATIONS Such areas along the fence are often the scene of intermittent clashes or Israeli incursions. Just last month, Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group in Gaza fought a fierce three-day battle that included Israeli shelling of militant positions and the landing of some unfired Palestinian rockets in the area. Elter also worries that excavation by inexperienced people could damage the site. He hopes a professional team can excavate, restore and properly protect the mosaic. “It is imperative that an emergency rescue operation be organized quickly,” Elder said. Detail of parts of a Byzantine-era mosaic floor recently uncovered by a Palestinian farmer in Bureij in the central Gaza Strip, September 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) Gaza, a narrow enclave on the Mediterranean Sea, boasts a wealth of antiquities and archaeological sites since it was an important land route connecting Mesopotamia and the Levant in ancient times. The coastal strip is full of remains of ancient civilizations, from the Bronze Age to the Islamic and Ottoman eras. However, treasures are rarely protected. In the past they were looted. In recent years, some have been damaged or destroyed by development projects or fighting with Israel. The Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after the takeover of Gaza by the militant group Hamas in 2007 has devastated the economy, leaving few resources to protect the antiquities. Hamas itself pays little attention to maintaining the sites as it struggles to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. More than 2.3 million people are crammed into just 300 square kilometers (115 square miles) of the strip. In 2017, Hamas bulldozers destroyed large parts of a site containing the remains of a 4,500-year-old Bronze Age settlement to build housing projects for its employees. Earlier this year, bulldozers digging for an Egyptian-funded housing project in northern Gaza discovered a Roman-era tomb. Details of parts of a Byzantine-era mosaic floor are revealed by a Palestinian farmer in Bureij in the central Gaza Strip, September 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) Among the few preserved sites in Gaza are the monastery of St. Hilarion, which dates from the late Roman Empire to the Islamic Umayyad period, and the site of a Byzantine church restored by international aid agencies and opened this year in the northern Gaza Strip. . While those sites also have mosaics, Elter said the latest discovery, in the central Gaza town of Bureij, is “remarkable.” The Hamas-run antiquities department described the mosaic as a “major archaeological discovery” but declined to comment further, saying there would be an official announcement later. PORTUGUESE DISCOVERS 82-FOOT LONG DINOSAUR SKELETON IN HIS BACKYARD The owner of the plot, who declined to be named before the official announcement, has covered the exposed part of the mosaic floor with sheet metal. He said he hopes to receive compensation for protecting the unique discovery on his property. The piece of land that holds the mosaic is about 500 square meters (5,400 sq ft), and three excavated spots reveal glimpses of the mosaic. The largest of the holes in the ground, about 2 meters by 3 meters (6 ft by 9 ft), has the 17 animal designs. The other two show intricate tile designs. The roots of an old olive tree have destroyed parts of the mosaic, which appears to have a total size of about 23 square meters (250 square feet). A Palestinian farmer found a rare 4,500-year-old stone sculpture while working his land in southern Gaza. (AP Photo/Adele Hanna) Just last month, another Palestinian farmer found a rare 4,500-year-old stone sculpture while working his land in the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the 22cm (6.7in) tall limestone head is believed to represent the Canaanite goddess Anat and is estimated to date from around 2,500 BC. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Anat was the benevolence of love, beauty and war in Canaanite mythology,” Jamal Abu Rida, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, said in a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Sarah Rumpf is a digital production assistant at Fox News. You can reach her on Twitter at @rumpfsarahc
