Workers at a construction site in the northern Gaza Strip have discovered 31 Roman-era tombs dating back to the first century, local authorities said today in the Palestinian enclave controlled by the Islamist movement Hamas.
The graves were discovered near the town of Beit Lahia, at the construction site in a residential area.
Naji Sarhan, an official with the Gaza Ministry of Public Works, confirmed the discovery and spoke of “evidence” of the presence of other graves in the area.
Gaza construction workers find 31 Roman-era tombs https://t.co/Fx7B3aeuBW
– St # Staysafe ???? ???? ???? (@GoogeliArt) February 21, 2022
Construction work was halted and experts from the Gaza Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism began recording the tombstones and objects, officials said.
An expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the tombs were believed to be part of a cemetery linked to the neighboring Roman site of Balahiya.
Construction workers at a building site in northern Gaza have uncovered 31 Roman-era tombs dating from the first century AD. The tombs were discovered near the town of Beit Lahia as work began on an Egyptian-funded residential area, part of a $ 500 million reconstruction package. pic.twitter.com/0BeAXX1zVY
– KUWAIT TIMES (@kuwaittimesnews) February 21, 2022
This is the latest discovery in Gaza, where tourist visits to archeological sites have been curtailed due to the Israeli blockade imposed by Hamas in 2007.
Israel and Egypt, neighboring countries of the Gaza Strip where nearly 2.3 million Palestinians live, severely restrict entry and exit to and from Palestinian territory.
Last month, a 5th-century Byzantine church reopened in Hamas after years of restoration work backed by foreign donors.
Daily Mail: Gaza construction workers find 31 Roman-era tombs https://t.co/gy7jDb7Dix #Palestine #Gaza #archaeology
– Levant’s Agora (@AgoraLevant) February 21, 2022
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