The Palestinian Ministry of Antiquities has reported that scientists and specialists have discovered at least 125 tombs in a cemetery dating back to the Roman era, most of which contain skeletons that are largely intact, along with two rare lead coffins. The Gaza Strip was an important trade site for ancient Egyptian and biblical Palestinian civilizations, continuing through the Roman Empire and the Crusades. Local archaeologists have been burying the artifacts they find due to lack of funding, but French organizations have assisted in excavating this site, which was discovered by a construction crew working on a housing project funded by Egypt in February of last year.
French biblical and archaeological expert Fadl Al-Atal told Reuters, "There are 125 graves, and for the first time in Gaza, we have lead coffins adorned with grapes and dolphins." Al-Atal, whose organization oversees the work with help from the French relief agency Première Urgence Internationale, added, "We need funding so that this history does not fade away. I hope this site becomes a tourist destination, with a museum to display the artifacts."
No fewer than 25 engineers and technicians participated in the digging, cleaning, and preservation of the skeletons on Sunday amid extremely hot weather. They also gathered pottery jars found inside some of the graves. Jamal Abu Rida, the Director-General of the Antiquities Ministry in Gaza, noted that "this is an unprecedented discovery; the significance of this cemetery is that it roots the Palestinian presence in this land, extending back thousands of years." He viewed this discovery as "deepening the Palestinian roots in this land and showing that they date back thousands of years."
