Palestinian farmer Salman al-Nabahain discovered a mosaic flooring dating back to the Byzantine era, featuring shapes of colorful birds and other animals, while attempting to plant new trees in his orchard. Al-Nabahain mentioned that he tried to determine why some of the trees he planted did not take root in the soil as they should have. He added that he and his son began digging to uncover the reason, and during the excavation, his son's axe struck a hard object of an unusual shape. He described the discovered artifact as "a treasure and more valuable than treasure."
The Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities stated that the discovery includes a collection of mosaic floors and animal icons, as well as drawings depicting social life during the Byzantine era. The ministry added in a statement: "The archaeological discovery is still in its initial stages, and we look forward to uncovering more secrets and cultural values." It continued: "National teams are working in partnership with international experts and archaeologists from the French School of Archaeology" to complete the excavation.
Gaza is rich in antiquities, as it was an important commercial center for civilizations dating back to the ancient Egyptians and the Palestinians mentioned in the Bible, through the Roman Empire and the Crusades. There have been several archaeological discoveries in Gaza over the past years, but due to a lack of funding and the absence of specialists, Gaza often calls on international organizations for assistance with excavation and restoration operations.
