Construction workers unearthed a 2000-year-old Roman burial site, including more than 34 graves, dating back to the first century AD, at a building site in northern Gaza city, when they were working on an Egyptian-funded residential area, part of the $500m reconstruction Egypt pledged following the 11-day offensive on the Gaza Strip last May.
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The discovered tombs, together with proof of additional tombs at the same location, were confirmed by Naji Sarhan, a spokesperson of Gaza’s Ministry of Public Works. He said that the building process within the location was discontinued as experts from Gaza’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities arrived to examine the relics, and gravestones.
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The figure of uncovered graves had mounted to 34, according to the ministry’s director-general Jamal Abu Rida, who also claimed that the belongings and pottery artefacts date back to the age of the Roman, as revealed by the ministry’s technicians and the French School for Antiques’ experts.
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Construction workers first came into a Roman grave while carrying out their new task at the beginning of February, leading to the discovery of the whole ruins of 2,000-year-old burial site. Until the excavation process is done, the area remains off-limits to the public.
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“Gaza is rich with uncovered antiquities, as it has been vital trading passage for many civilizations due to the seaport that attracted Roman and Canaanite civilizations, in addition to its gate with the ancient Egyptians,” said Abu Rida, who also indicated that due to the declining conditions on the occupied Gaza Strip, projects concerned restoration and excavation for historical monuments in multiple locations are inadequately financed.