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The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the discovery of a 600-year-old Byzantine-era monastery buried near the city of Kiryat Gat. The previously unknown monastery includes a mosaic floor that contains a verse from Deuteronomy 28:6 in Greek, which reads, “Blessed are you when you come in, and blessed are you when you go out.” The site was uncovered while work was being done to develop a new neighborhood north of the city. Along with the monastery, a wine press was discovered with a mosaic floor as well, along with imported wares, coins, and vessels made of glass and metal. An earlier layer of the find dates some 600 years earlier, around the 1st century BC. Over 10 buildings were discovered during the excavation.

Mark Avrahami, Head of Artistic Conservation at IAA, called the site “one of the most unique ever found in Israel.” The mosaic will be taken to IAA’s mosaic workshop for preservation efforts. “Transferring mosaics is a complex process that requires great skill and precision. Soon, the ancient mosaic will be moved to the Israel Antiquities Authority’s mosaic workshop for preservation before being displayed in the city,” said Avrahami. After preservation, the mosaic will be taken to an open area where the public will be able to view it. Yaacov Kvint, Director of the Israel Land Authority, noted how the discovery of the site during a new development project showed the connection between the past and present. “The discovery of the monastery during development works for the construction of a new neighborhood highlights the connection between the past and the future, as well as between preservation and development.”

Along with the monastery and wine press, archaeologists also uncovered evidence of a local pottery industry. The IAA noted the discovery of “detritus typical of a ceramic factory, garbage pits, misshapen vessels that were flawed in production, and even a number of vessels unique to this site.” The winepress, too, shows a lot of sophistication, with the IAA noting it had been repaired several times and must have required a great deal of financial resources. Svetlana Talis, Director of the Southern Region at the IAA said that, “The discovery of the site highlights the historical richness of Kiryat Gat and its surroundings, shedding light on the centrality of the region in antiquity.”

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