Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

Gaza archaeologists find 'complete' Roman-era cemetery

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Dec 2022 20:59
3 Min Read

Dozens of Roman-era tombs have been unearthed by researchers in the 2,000-year-old cemetery that was discovered earlier this year in northern Gaza.

  • x
  • The 2,000-year-old cemetery is located near the ruins of the Greek port city of Anthedon, now in the northern Gaza Strip (Mohammed ABED / AFP)
    The 2,000-year-old cemetery is located near the ruins of the Greek port city of Anthedon, now in the northern Gaza Strip (Mohammed Abed / AFP)

Dozens of Roman-era tombs have been unearthed by researchers in the northern Gaza Strip at a site discovered earlier this year during construction work, the Palestinian Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism in Gaza announced Monday.

As work started in early 2022 on an Egyptian-funded residential project, construction workers had uncovered 31 tombs near the town of Beit Lahia, part of reconstruction efforts after the 11-day war that broke out in May 2021 between the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and the Israeli military, during which 250 Palestinians were martyred by the Israeli occupation.

أعلنت وزارة الآثار والسياحة في قطاع #غزة الإثنين أنه تم اكتشاف عشرات القبور في مقبرة رومانية تعود إلى نحو ألفي عام قرب مخيم الشاطئ بشمال غرب مدينة غزة.https://t.co/T3v3zX8l0t #فرانس_برس

📸 @mohmdabed pic.twitter.com/Ex8Xn08Lot

— فرانس برس بالعربية (@AFPar) December 12, 2022

Following the discovery, the project has been partially suspended, and a team from the local antiquities ministry visited the location to make a catalog of the discoveries and look for more, Fazl al-Atal, head of the excavation team, told AFP on Monday.

"So far, 51 Roman tombs dating from the first century AD have been found," including the 31 initially found by the construction workers, he said, adding that they expect "to find 75 to 80 tombs in total."

Al-Atal hailed the discovery of the "first complete Roman-era cemetery found in Gaza".

Related News

Iran defends regional policies, warns of escalating aggression in Gaza

Gaza flattened for pay, not need: IOF reward operators for each ruin

The 2,000-year-old burial site is situated near the Greek port of Anthedon's ruins, on the road that leads to ancient Askalan.

The antiquity ministry team has been focusing on "documentation, research, and protection of the site," Al-Atal said, noting that their goal is "to ascertain... the causes of death."

The site is "of great importance and believed to be an extension of the site" of ancient Anthedon, Jamal Abu Reda, who is in charge of antiquities at the ministry, said.

Why does it matter?

In Gaza, both research and tourism to archaeological sites are limited due to the imposed Israeli blockade.

In September, researchers in Gaza discovered Byzantine mosaics dating from the 5th to 7th centuries, and in April, they found a 4,500-year-old stone statuette depicting the face of an ancient goddess.

The Gaza Strip, which has for a long time been blockaded by "Israel", is rich with antiquities, as it was an important trading spot for a number of civilizations dating as far back as the ancient Egyptians, through the Roman empire.

The 2,000-year-old cemetery has been first uncovered in February, and samples of the ruins discovered there include the remains of a siege laid by Alexander the Great and a Mongol invasion.

The shape of the graves and their ornate decorations reveal that they belonged to "senior ranking people" in the Roman empire during the first century, said Jamal Abu Rida, director-general of Gaza's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

  • Gaza Strip
  • Archaeologists
  • Roman

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS