Discovery of Roman tombs in Gaza. | Photo: AFP.
Four two-thousand-year-old Roman tombs were discovered in the north of the Gaza Strip, This made it possible to restore the first complete Roman cemetery in this Palestinian territory, specialist Fadel Al Otol told the news agency on Saturday. AFP.
“With the discovery of this four graves in this Roman cemetery, from the period between the 1st century BC. and the 2nd century AD, now number 134. It is the first complete Roman necropolis discovered in Ribbonsaid Al Otol.
According to the expert, “also Ceramic fragments and pieces of metal were found used in funeral rituals.”
The cemetery houses graves with pyramid structure. Inside, a team of technicians led by Al Otol are busy with restoration work using rudimentary tools.
“Two lead coffins were recently discovered at the site, one decorated with grapes and the other with swimming dolphins,” the Palestinian archaeologist noted.
According to AFP, funding for the excavation and restoration work comes from the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund.
The Gaza Strip, a small and poor territory, borders Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean. It is controlled by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hama and has been subject to an Israeli blockade for more than 15 years.