In Rosh Ha-Ayin, a city in the Center District of Israel, archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) have unearthed the remains of a 2,700-year-old farmhouse and a 1,500-year-old monastery.
Aerial view of the 2,700-year-old farmstead. Image credit: Griffin Aerial Photography.
“The large farmhouse (98 x 164 feet, or 30 x 50 m) was preserved to a height of more than 6 feet (2 m),” said IAA archaeologist Dr. Amit Shadman.
“The building is 2,700 years old and included 24 rooms constructed around a central courtyard.”
“A large storage compartment meant to protect the grain was exposed in the courtyard. It seems that carbohydrates were as popular then as now, and the growing and processing of grain were fairly widespread in the rural-agricultural region. This was corroborated by other discoveries in the field that included numerous millstones which were used to grind the grain into flour.”
“In addition, we found simple rock-hewn oil presses used in the production of olive oil”.
“This farmstead and other similar ones operated for centuries until the region was abandoned in Hellenistic period.”
Dr. Shadman and his colleagues also found two silver coins from the 4 century BC that “bear the likenesses of the goddess Athena and the Athenian owl.”
Part of the excavated mosaic floor of the Byzantine period church. Image credit: Assaf Peretz / Israel Antiquities Authority.
A monastery dating to the early Byzantine period (5th century CE) was exposed on one of the hills in the area and included a church, an oil press, residential quarters and stables equipped with mangers and troughs.
“The floors of the church that was built in the monastery were made of colorful mosaics that included geometric and other designs,” the archaeologists said.
“In addition, a Greek inscription ascribed to a priest named Theodosius was revealed in one of the mosaics: “This place was built under Theodosius the priest. Peace be with you when you come, peace be with you when you go, Amen.”
“Given the impressive finds uncovered in the excavations, it was decided that the ancient remains will be conserved in situ, and will be displayed in the communal areas of the new neighborhoods that will be open for the benefit of the public.”
