Palestinian Man Discovers Ancient Art in Gaza

A Palestinian man in Gaza has discovered one of the greatest historical treasures ever found in the area, experts say.

Archaeologists and other researchers are excited about the find: a mosaic¹ floor. A mosaic is a surface made with small pieces of colored glass or stone, sometimes creating a picture of something.

But the discovery is also leading people to demand better protection of Gaza's ancient objects. Such objects are threatened by a lack of awareness² and resources as well as the risk of conflict between Israel and Gaza.

The discovery

Last spring, Salman al-Nabahin was planting a new olive³ tree when his shovel⁴ hit a hard object. He called his son for help in digging out the large piece. It took three months before they fully⁵ uncovered a mosaic floor from the Byzantine period, more than 1,000 years old. The colors are still bright and the piece is in good condition. The mosaic design includes images of birds and other animals.

The farmer's property is just a kilometer from the Israeli border.

René Elter is an archaeologist from the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem.

"These are the most beautiful mosaic floors discovered in Gaza,"

he said.

Elter added the mosaic dates back to a time between the 5th and the 7th centuries. But he said a careful study must be done to learn when exactly it was built and whether it was part of a religious or non-religious building.

Elter, who has done research in Gaza in the past, has not been able to visit the site. But he viewed a series of still images, or photographs, and videos from local research partners.

The Gaza Strip, a Palestinian coastal⁶ area between Israel and Egypt, was a busy trade path between Egypt and the Levant in ancient times. The area is full of remains⁷ of ancient civilizations, from the Bronze Age to the Islamic and Ottoman eras.

However, the treasures are rarely protected. In the past, they were stolen. In recent years, some were damaged or destroyed by development projects or fighting with Israel. An Israeli-Egyptian blockade was established after the Hamas group took leadership of Gaza in 2007. The blockade has hurt Gaza's economy, leaving few resources for the protection of ancient objects.

Hamas itself pays little attention to the care of ancient sites as it tries to meet the needs of a quickly growing population. More than 2.3 million Gazans live in the 300-square-kilometer territory. In 2017, digging machines destroyed large parts of a site containing remains from a 4,500-year-old Bronze Age settlement to make housing projects for Hamas employees.

Early this year, machines digging for an Egyptian-financed housing project in northern Gaza found a Roman-era tomb.

Among the few protected ancient sites in Gaza are the St. Hilarion monastery⁸, built in the late Roman Empire, and a Byzantine church that aid groups repaired and opened this year.

While these sites also have mosaics⁹, Elter said the latest discovery, in the central Gaza town of Bureij, is "exceptional¹⁰."

Al-Nabahin has covered the mosaic floor with metal sheets. He said he hopes to receive payment for protecting the special discovery on his property.

Words in This Story

lack – n. the state or condition of not having any or enough of something : the state or condition of lacking something

shovel – n. a tool with a long handle that is used for lifting and throwing dirt, sand, snow, etc.

tomb – n. a building or chamber¹¹ above or below the ground in which a dead body is kept

exceptional – adj. unusually good : much better than average

1 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

2 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

3 olive   

n.橄榄，橄榄树，橄榄色；adj.黄绿色的，黄褐色的，橄榄色的

参考例句：

• Have you eaten a kind of fruit called olive?你吃过橄榄这种水果吗？
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace.她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。

4 shovel   

n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出

参考例句：

• He was working with a pick and shovel.他在用镐和铲干活。
• He seized a shovel and set to.他拿起一把铲就干上了。

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 monastery   

n.修道院，僧院，寺院

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。

9 mosaics   

n.马赛克( mosaic的名词复数 )；镶嵌；镶嵌工艺；镶嵌图案

参考例句：

• The panel shows marked similarities with mosaics found elsewhere. 这块嵌板和在其他地方找到的镶嵌图案有明显的相似之处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The unsullied and shining floor was paved with white mosaics. 干净明亮的地上镶嵌着白色图案。 来自辞典例句

10 exceptional   

adj.优越的，杰出的，例外的，独特的，异常的

参考例句：

• He is a man of exceptional talent.他是位具有非凡才能的人。
• He showed exceptional musical ability.他显示出特殊的音乐才能。

11 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。