A Palestinian farmer trying to plant new trees on his land in Gaza discovers by chance an ornate Byzantine floor mosaic that shows a variety of colorful birds and other animals.

Six months ago, Salman Al-Nabahin unearthed the relic while working in his orchard in the Bureij refugee camp, around a kilometer (0.5 mile) from the border with the Palestinian land occupied by the Israelis.

Al-Nabahin revealed that he began digging with his son as they needed to know why some trees had not properly taken root. His son's axe then hit something hard that seemed unfamiliar.    

"I searched on the internet ... We learned it was a mosaic belonging to the Byzantine era," said the father, adding, "I see it as a treasure, dearer than a treasure. It isn't personal, it belongs to every Palestinian."

The flooring included several mosaic panels depicting animals and other aspects of social life during the Byzantine era, the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities revealed.

"The archaeological discovery is still in its early stages and we await to know more of the secrets and civilization values," the ministry stated.

"National research teams are working in partnership with international experts and scientists from the French Archaeology School."    

This new discovery has sent a wave of excitement among archaeologists as it is one of the greatest archaeological treasures ever found in Gaza.  

“These are the most beautiful mosaic floors discovered in Gaza, both in terms of the quality of the graphic representation and the complexity of the geometry,” said René Elter, an archaeologist from the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem, adding, “Never have mosaic floors of this finesse, this precision in the graphics and richness of the colors been discovered in the Gaza Strip.”

However, Elter has expressed concern due to its close approximation to the Israeli separation fence saying that it is in “immediate danger”. He added, “It is imperative to quickly organize an emergency rescue intervention.”  

Gaza had been a significant trading spot for civilizations that dates back to the ancient Egyptians and the Philistines depicted in the Bible, through to the Roman empire and the crusades; thus, it is rich with antiquities.

In recent years, several discoveries have been made, but due to a lack of funds and relevant professionals, Gaza has called on international groups to help with the process of excavation and preservation.