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Palestinian farmer unearths rare Byzantine-era mosaic in Gaza
A rare Byzantine-era mosaic floor, dating back to the 5th to the 7th century, was discovered by a Palestinian farmer in the Gaza Strip, local media reported Sunday (Sep 18), the Xinhua reported.
Suleiman al-Nabahin, 55, made the discovery by chance when he was trying to plant new trees on his land, just about 800 meters away from the Israeli border, Sama News Agency reported.
French archaeologist Rene Elter, a researcher associated with the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem whose team examined the finds, informed that the beautiful mosaic floors were found in an area less than a kilometre from the often tense border with Israel. He also added that the mosaics are "in a perfect state of conservation".
"It's work of excellent quality, they used materials that were certainly relatively expensive," Mr Elter stated, as per AFP.
According to the researcher, the mosaics may have adorned the floor of a church or private villa. They depict animal and social life dating back to the Byzantine area. They also show geometric shapes and additional architectural monuments and remains of ancient walls.
The Hamas-run Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Gaza said in a statement that the discovery is still in its infancy and "more of the secrets and civilization values" remain to be learned.
Gaza farmer finds 4,500-year-old statue of Canaanite goddess
The stunning mosaic floors are the latest in a series of Byzantine archaeological finds in Gaza in recent years.
The region, which is a narrow enclave on the Mediterranean Sea, boasts a trove of antiquities and archaeological sites as it was a major land route connecting Egypt and the Levant in ancient times.
The coastal strip is full of remains of past civilisations, from the Bronze Age to the Islamic and Ottoman eras.
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