Palestinian farmer makes an astounding mosaic discovery while planting olive trees
Some accidents are as fortunate as they get. Just ask Salman al-Nabahin, a Palestinian farmer who accidentally found one of the most glorious mosaic discoveries in recent history.
Nabahin and his young son were puzzled as to why a considerable number of olive trees in their otherwise healthy and fertile orchard were struggling to grow. Adamant on finding the root of the problem, they started digging further under the said trees. It wasn’t long before Nabahin’s son hit the hard surface with his mattock. After some careful digging, they’ve partially unearthed one of the most well-preserved, ornate Byzantine mosaics to date.
Some other farmers would probably get agitated because his trees can’t take root on the said piece of land, but Nabahin was familiar with his country’s cultural heritage, so he knew better. Once he got home he started browsing the internet for some possible clues and he quickly discovered that the intricate mosaic artwork probably belongs to the Byzantine era.
“I searched on the internet…We learned that it was a mosaic belonging to the Byzantine era”, said Nabahin, adding,” I see it as a treasure, dearer than a treasure. It isn’t personal, it belongs to every Palestinian.”
The wonderful ornate mosaic floor artwork depicts various birds and other animals frozen in motion. The sheer complexity of the geometry and precision with which this amazing mosaic floor was created, as well as the exceptional quality of the artwork itself, makes this mosaic find one of the most valuable mosaic discoveries in recent times.
The Byzantine Empire, or the Eastern Roman Empire, was formed after the final collapse of the Roman Empire, in 395 CE. It existed as a continuation of the Roman empire in the eastern provinces, including Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Southern Italy, Israel, and Palestine. The Byzantine Empire was so well solidified and trained that it survived the devastating fall of the Western Roman Empire, and it continued thriving for another thousand years until the Ottoman empire took over Constantinople in 1453.
The Byzantine era is known for its glorious religious art. From its astounding architectural efforts to mosaics, sculptures, and frescoes, this was truly the golden era when it comes to celebrating religion. Byzantine art was so prestigious that it became one of the formative influences on the magnificent Italian Renaissance.
Illustrious marble columns, marvelous, richly decorated domes, and sumptuous decoration were essential parts of Byzantine artistic achievements. From alabaster sheets and copious ornamentation to the extensive use of gorgeous mosaics with golden backgrounds, the Byzantine era was one of the most artistically innovative and rich periods in human history.
Keeping all of that in mind, it is no wonder that Gaza is full of archeological sites and amazing relics. However, due to the lack of any serious funding in the area, much of the preservation of these great cultural finds have come from various international groups.
“The archeological discovery is still in its early stages and we await to know more of the secrets and civilization values”, said the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in one of the recent statements,” National research teams are working in partnership with international experts and scientists from the French Archaeology School.”
Salman al-Nabahin’s discovery is just one of the many archeological gems that waited to be found in this rich Palestinian area. Who knows how many more are patiently biding their time under the loamy soil of Gaza.
This article was originally published on Mosaics Lab’s website.
