Archaeology
Byzantine mosaic excavated in Israel
Archaeologists have excavated a Byzantine mosaic, decorated with floral designs in the Shoham Industrial Zone, located in the Shephelah region of Israel.
The excavations are part of a community project to restore the archaeological site of Horvat El-Bira, an ancient settlement which was covered over by development works during the late 20th century. The mosaic was part of an ancient church first discovered during the 1980’s, but was subsequently reburied to preserve the remains.
During the Roman period, the site was the location of a rural villa complex and several agricultural related buildings.
By the Byzantine period, a church was added that supported a network of “refreshing stations” alongside a major ancient highway connecting the coastal regions with the Shephelah lowlands. These stations were positioned every few miles, serving as places of rest, recovery, and worship.
Image Credit : Israel Antiquities Authority
Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority, working in conjunction with the Shoham Local Council and volunteers, have now re-excavated the mosaic to reveal a series of floral patterns that are centred within a circular and square design.
Yair Amitzur, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority Central Region Education Department, said: “When we first came to the site, the mosaic was covered over with earth and weeds. Over the last month we have been uncovering and cleaning up the site together with the local community. We are working here amongst a carpet of flowering anemones. One can just imagine that the artist of the flower-adorned mosaic was inspired by the surroundings.”
Header Image Credit : Israel Antiquities Authority
According to an announcement by the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, archaeologists have discovered five Bronze Age axes in Starogard Forest District, located in Kociewie, Poland.
The initial discovery was made by history enthusiast, Denis Konkol, who notified local authorities from the Pomeranian provincial conservator of monuments. In Poland, it is forbidden to conduct an amateur search for artefacts using a metal detector, either for commercial or for personal use unless licensed by local authorities, requiring all finds to be reported which become the property of the state.
Upon inspection of the discovery site, archaeologists found five axes within a radius of several dozen metres at a depth of 20 to 30 centimetres beneath a layer of turf and humus.
Igor Strzok, Pomeranian provincial conservator of monuments, said: “The extraction of these finds took place under the archaeological supervision of our colleagues from the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments. This means that we prevented possible destruction of the site.”
The five axes date from between 1700 and 1300 BC and were likely a ritual deposit of a cult nature, however, the archaeologists haven’t ruled out that the axes could also be a deposit related to trade.
According to the announcement, the objects are tautušiai type axes associated with Baltic cultures from today’s Lithuania or north-eastern Poland. Defined by their considerable size, the axes feature a slim handle with raised edges and a wide blade.
Previous excavations of Bronze Age sites in the region generally find bracelets or breastplates, while the most recent unearthing of a weapon or Bronze Age tool dates back 20 years, highlighting the scarcity of such finds in the region.
The axes are scheduled to be transported to the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk, where experts will conduct a thorough examination.
Header Image Credit : Stargard Forest District
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
Archaeologists have uncovered a mosaic depicting lions during excavations at ancient Prusias ad Hypium, located in modern-day Konuralp, Turkey.
Prusias ad Hypium was a city in ancient Bithynia which was annexed by the Roman Republic in 74 BC. The city flourished as a significant trading hub, maintaining autonomy in its local governance and even issuing its own currency.
The city was rediscovered during the 19th century, with recent excavations being conducted by the archaeology department of Düzce University under the patronage of the Konuralp Museum, and supported by the Municipality of Düzce.
Excavations indicate that the city exhibits characteristics of a Hellenistic polis. Among the surviving remains are remnants of the city walls, a gate within the fortifications, an open-air theatre, an aqueduct, and a Roman bridge.
A recent archaeological study has focused on the theatre, known locally as the “The Forty Stairs”. The theatre was built during the Hellenistic period (300–30 BC) and was expanded in the Roman period.
The study has uncovered the remains of a mosaic depicting a pair of lions, which was found in a room of the portico in the middle of the theatre axis.
The room has a rectangular shape and is adorned with a mosaic covering the entire floor with a geometric floral pattern. At the centre is a mosaic frame depicting the pair of lions either side of a pine tree. Hanging from the tree is a tympanum (a drum or tambourine), and on the left branch is a pan flute.
According to the researchers, the room was dedicated to the cult of Dionysus. During Dionysian processions, it was common to observe Silenus and maenads participating by playing musical instruments such as the tympanum and pan flute.
Header Image Credit : Konuralp Museum
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
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