An archaeological excavation near Kiryat Gat, a city southwest of Jerusalem, has uncovered a Byzantine monastery with a mosaic floor featuring a Greek inscription, as well as a sophisticated winepress and other ancient structures. These findings, part of an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation, offer new insights into the region’s importance during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
The monastery’s mosaic floor features an extraordinary blend of geometric patterns, floral designs, and symbolic imagery, including crosses, lions, doves, and amphorae. At its centre lies a Greek inscription from Deuteronomy 28:6: “Blessed are you when you come in, and blessed are you when you go out.” The mosaic’s delicate craftsmanship highlights the prosperity of the community that once inhabited the site, with small mosaic stones meticulously arranged to accentuate its intricate details.
The mosaic, with a cross and inscription at its center. Photo by Emil Aljam, Israel Antiquities Authority.
“The mosaic discovered in Kiryat Gat is one of the most unique ever found in Israel,” adds Mark Avrahami, Head of Artistic Conservation at the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Transferring mosaics is a complex process that requires great skill and precision. Soon, the ancient mosaic will be moved to the Israel Antiquities Authority’s mosaic workshop for preservation before being displayed in the city.”
The discovery of a sophisticated winepress further underscores the settlement’s wealth and importance. The facility, used and repaired over centuries, includes fermentation rooms with mosaic floors of blue and white stones, collecting vats with traces of red paint, and Greek letters carved into some of the flooring slabs. These features reveal the significant financial and professional investment that went into its construction and operation.
An amphora design on the mosaic. Photo by Emil Aljam, Israel Antiquities Authority.
Excavations have uncovered a wealth of artefacts, including imported ceramics, coins, marble, and glass vessels, all of which point to a thriving and connected community. Evidence of local pottery production—such as kiln debris, flawed vessels, and waste materials—indicates that the site was a hub of craftsmanship and trade.
“The early settlement is sited on a central road junction connecting the mountain region to the coastal plain,” explains Shira Lifshitz and Maayan Margulis, the site’s excavation managers. It apparently served the area’s smaller settlements as well as travelers passing by. This is the largest and most significant Roman and Byzantine period site uncovered in this area. The findings indicate a succession of settlement starting from the early Roman period (1st century CE) and through until the end of the Byzantin period (end of the 6th century CE).”
Roman and Byzantine artefacts. Photo by Emil Aljam, Israel Antiquities Authority.
Kiryat Gat, the modern city where the archaeological site was uncovered, lies about 68 kilomoetres southwest of Jerusalem. Before its establishment in the 1950s, the area was home to the Palestinian village of Iraq al-Manshiyya. Historical records and archaeological findings trace the village’s origins to at least the Mamluk period, with evidence of continuous habitation through the Ottoman era and into the 20th century.
In 1948, during the Arab-Israeli War, the village’s Palestinian population was forcibly displaced as part of a broader campaign of ethnic cleansing. Iraq al-Manshiyya was depopulated and the village’s lands were later repurposed for new Israeli settlements. The archaeological site is part of new housing development being undertaken by the Israel Land Authority.
An aerial view of the site. Photo by Emil Aljam, Israel Antiquities Authority
Top Image: Photo courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority
An archaeological excavation near Kiryat Gat, a city southwest of Jerusalem, has uncovered a Byzantine monastery with a mosaic floor featuring a Greek inscription, as well as a sophisticated winepress and other ancient structures. These findings, part of an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation, offer new insights into the region’s importance during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
The monastery’s mosaic floor features an extraordinary blend of geometric patterns, floral designs, and symbolic imagery, including crosses, lions, doves, and amphorae. At its centre lies a Greek inscription from Deuteronomy 28:6: “Blessed are you when you come in, and blessed are you when you go out.” The mosaic’s delicate craftsmanship highlights the prosperity of the community that once inhabited the site, with small mosaic stones meticulously arranged to accentuate its intricate details.
“The mosaic discovered in Kiryat Gat is one of the most unique ever found in Israel,” adds Mark Avrahami, Head of Artistic Conservation at the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Transferring mosaics is a complex process that requires great skill and precision. Soon, the ancient mosaic will be moved to the Israel Antiquities Authority’s mosaic workshop for preservation before being displayed in the city.”
The discovery of a sophisticated winepress further underscores the settlement’s wealth and importance. The facility, used and repaired over centuries, includes fermentation rooms with mosaic floors of blue and white stones, collecting vats with traces of red paint, and Greek letters carved into some of the flooring slabs. These features reveal the significant financial and professional investment that went into its construction and operation.
Excavations have uncovered a wealth of artefacts, including imported ceramics, coins, marble, and glass vessels, all of which point to a thriving and connected community. Evidence of local pottery production—such as kiln debris, flawed vessels, and waste materials—indicates that the site was a hub of craftsmanship and trade.
“The early settlement is sited on a central road junction connecting the mountain region to the coastal plain,” explains Shira Lifshitz and Maayan Margulis, the site’s excavation managers. It apparently served the area’s smaller settlements as well as travelers passing by. This is the largest and most significant Roman and Byzantine period site uncovered in this area. The findings indicate a succession of settlement starting from the early Roman period (1st century CE) and through until the end of the Byzantin period (end of the 6th century CE).”
Kiryat Gat, the modern city where the archaeological site was uncovered, lies about 68 kilomoetres southwest of Jerusalem. Before its establishment in the 1950s, the area was home to the Palestinian village of Iraq al-Manshiyya. Historical records and archaeological findings trace the village’s origins to at least the Mamluk period, with evidence of continuous habitation through the Ottoman era and into the 20th century.
In 1948, during the Arab-Israeli War, the village’s Palestinian population was forcibly displaced as part of a broader campaign of ethnic cleansing. Iraq al-Manshiyya was depopulated and the village’s lands were later repurposed for new Israeli settlements. The archaeological site is part of new housing development being undertaken by the Israel Land Authority.
Top Image: Photo courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority
Subscribe to Medievalverse
Related Posts