Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) discovered a massive 1,500-year-old Byzantine-era monastic complex north of the city of Kiryat Gat in southern Israel.

Inside the monastery there is a large mosaic with a Greek inscription that reads: “In peace the entrance and the exit” (Deuteronomy V’).

The mosaic dates back to the 5th-6th century AD.

Archaeologists have described the Byzantine monastery as “the largest and most important site discovered in the area” from this period.

The mosaic is considered “one of the most unique ever found in Israel,” according to Mark Avrahami, who leads conservation efforts at the IAA.

The complex was discovered during work related to the development of a new neighborhood north of the city.

The majority of the artifacts and finds date to the Byzantine era (5th-6th centuries AD), although an older layer dates to the late Roman period, about 600 years ago, the researchers said.

The main mosaic floor was decorated with images of “crosses, lions, doves, an amphora, flowers and geometric patterns”.

In the center was the biblical inscription in Greek: “Entry and exit in peace”.

Near the main building of the monastery, archaeologists discovered “a very sophisticated wine press”, which had been repaired several times, indicating “that the construction and development of this winery required significant financial resources, time and a series of professional work and effort”.

The fermentation rooms had mosaic floors while on the floor of the collection tank, on some slabs, Greek letters can still be seen.