GAZA, Sept 18 (Reuters) – An elaborate Byzantine floor mosaic showing a variety of colorful birds and other animals was accidentally discovered in Gaza after a Palestinian farmer tried to plant new trees on his land. Salman al-Nabahin discovered the relic six months ago while working in his olive grove in the Bureij refugee camp, about one kilometer (0.5 miles) from the border with Israel. Trying to figure out why some trees weren’t rooted properly, Nabahin said he and his son started digging. Then the son’s ax hit something hard and unfamiliar in appearance. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up “I looked online… We found out it was a Byzantine-era mosaic,” said the father of seven, sitting next to his discovery. “I see it as a treasure, dearer than a treasure. It is not personal, it belongs to every Palestinian.” Palestinian farmer Salman al-Nabahin cleans a mosaic floor he discovered on his farm that officials say dates back to the Byzantine era, in the central Gaza Strip September 18, 2022. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
read more The Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the floor included several mosaic panels depicting animals and other features of social life during the Byzantine era. “The archaeological discovery is still in its early stages and we expect to learn more of the secrets and values ​​of the culture,” the ministry said in a statement. “National research teams work in collaboration with international experts and scientists from the French School of Archaeology.” Gaza is rich in antiquities, having been an important trading post for cultures dating back to the ancient Egyptians and Philistines depicted in the Bible, to the Roman Empire and the Crusades. Several discoveries have been made in recent years. However, due to a lack of funds and relevant professionals, Gaza usually invites international teams to help with the excavation and maintenance process. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Nidal Almughrabi writes. Edited by Alex Richardson Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Nidal Al-Mughrabi Thomson Reuters Senior correspondent with nearly 25 years of experience covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including several wars and the signing of the first historic peace agreement between the two sides.