Currently, 20 graves have been located, but archaeologists hope to discover 80 in total, within an area of 50 square metres. Photo: Mahmoud Hams/AFP
A 2,000-year-old Roman cemetery containing at least 20 decorated tombs was discovered in the Gaza Strip. This is the most important archaeological discovery of the past ten years.
So far, 20 Roman tombs have been located, but archaeologists expect to discover 80 tombs in total, within an area of 50 square metres. Likewise, two tombs were opened, one of which contained skeletal remains and some pottery jars.
The discovery was made by a construction team that was working on an Egyptian-funded housing project. When the workers came across the large bricks from the ancient cemetery, they stopped working and called the archaeologists.
“We have made many discoveries in the past,” said Jamal Abu Rida, director general of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Gaza.
According to Abu Rida, due to the tombs’ shape and relatively ornate decoration, they likely belonged to “high-ranking figures” in the Roman Empire during the first century.
(taken from RT in Spanish)
See also:
roman echoes | Cubadepati