Cooking utensils, a large wine press, a gold coin and various structures dating back to the Byzantine and Islamic periods have been unearthed in Ramat Hasharon, the Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday.
The city, just a few kilometers north of Tel Aviv, was established in 1922. However, the area was settled centuries earlier, as confirmed by the archaeological remains.
“This is the first archaeological excavation ever conducted at the site, and only part of it was previously identified in an archaeological field survey,” Tel Aviv District archaeologist Diego Barkan said. “The Antiquities Authority views this as an excellent opportunity to integrate the ancient remains into plans for the future municipal park.”
The remains offered a glimpse of the daily life of the inhabitants of the land.
“The excavation unearthed evidence of agricultural-industrial activity at the site during the Byzantine period about 1,500 years ago. Among other finds, we discovered a large winepress paved with a mosaic, as well as plastered installations and the foundations of a large structure that may have been used as a warehouse or even a farmstead,” said Dr. Yoav Arbel, director of the excavation.
“Inside the buildings and installations, we found many fragments of storage jars and cooking pots that were evidently used by laborers working in the fields here,” he added. “We also recovered stone mortars and millstones that were used to grind wheat and barley and probably also to crush herbs and medicinal plants. Most of the stone implements are made of basalt from the Golan Heights and Galilee.”
The artifacts were discovered during a salvage excavation prior to the construction of a neighborhood. According to Israeli law, a salvage excavation has to be conducted for any construction project.
The archaeologists also came across an individual gold coin minted in 638 or 639 under the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, the ruler who lost the area of the Middle East, including what is now modern Israel, Syria and Egypt, first to the Persians and then to the Arabs.
The coin features the emperor with his two sons on one side, and the Golgotha, where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was crucified, on the other.
“The coin encapsulates fascinating data on the decline of Byzantine rule in the country and contemporary historical events, such as the Persian invasion and the emergence of Islam, and provides information on Christian and pagan symbolism and the local population who lived here,” said Dr. Robert Kool, head of the Antiquities Authority numismatics department.
The coin also bears an inscription scratched on it in Greek, and possibly in Arabic, likely featuring the name of the owner.
In addition, a bronze chain used to suspend chandeliers was found – artifacts that were usually used in churches.
Some installations from the early Islamic periods were also uncovered, including a workshop to produce glass, and a warehouse, as well as artifacts such as oil lamps and other utensils. The warehouse contained four large vessels sunk in the floor that were used to conserve grain and produce.
“In this period, people were not only working at the site but also living there, because we discovered the remains of houses and two large baking ovens,” Arbel said.
Based on the remains discovered, the experts believe that the site was in use until the 11th century.
“I am thrilled by the finds, and we have already started working with the directors of the Neveh Gan North project on exactly how to integrate the current finds into the future neighborhood,” said Ramat Hasharon Mayor Avi Gruber.
“I want all our residents to enjoy learning about life here in antiquity and in the Middle Ages. As we plan heritage-related events for the upcoming centenary, this opens up a whole new perspective on how people once lived in this part of the country.”