Workers at a construction site in the north of the Gaza Strip discovered 31 Roman-era tombs dating back to the 1st century AD, officials in the Palestinian enclave controlled by the Islamist Hamas movement said on Monday.
The graves were found on the outskirts of the city of Beit Lahia, in a residential area.
Naji Sarhan, an official with the Gaza Ministry of Public Works, confirmed the discovery and noted that there was “evidence” of the presence of other graves at the site.
Work was halted and experts from the Gaza Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism began reporting on the tombstones and other objects found, officials said.
One of the experts, who requested anonymity, said the graves are believed to be part of a cemetery linked to the nearby Balajiya site.
It is the latest discovery in the Gaza Strip, where tourist visits to archaeological sites have been restricted after the Israeli-imposed blockade of the enclave following the Hamas takeover in 2007.
Israel and Egypt, both bordering the Gaza Strip, where about 2.3 million Palestinians live in overcrowded areas, apply severe restrictions on entry and exit into this Palestinian territory.
Last month, Hamas reopened a Byzantine church that dates to the 5th century after years of restoration work, thanks to foreign donations.
