“If we do nothing, everything will disappear in the years to come”

The floors represent animals – lion, peacocks, flamingos, rabbits, ducks, foxes – trees, fruit baskets and arabesques. The number of squares of earthenware per square meter is very high. This fantastic archaeological find was unearthed by a Palestinian farmer in his orchard in Al Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave with a population of 2.5 million wedged between Israel and the ‘Egypt. These are mosaic floors from the High Middle Ages.

René Elter, researcher at the French Biblical and Archaeological School in Jerusalem, talks about a mosaic of exceptional finesse. “The small squares are called tesserae. It is true that it is a mosaic which is relatively fineinforms the expert. What is especially fine in this pavement are the representations. Each animal is generally underlined, enhanced with a black line and, in the colors, there are very shimmering shades. We certainly have the use of glass paste or very, very fine stones for the realization of these floors.”

The panels are scattered over 400 square meters. Archaeologists are now trying to find out when they date back and in what setting. “At the first reading of the pavements, one could say that they were made between the 5th and 7th centuriesbelieves René Elter. Afterwards, identifying the place is a bit difficult… It may be a religious establishment, maybe a church.”

This jewel of humanity is in danger. “After the various armed exchanges that have taken place in recent years, there is a need to relocate a lot of people. Relocating people who lost their homes in 2014 has still not been doneexplains the researcher. Since there is a need for housing, we will excavate, and, since the Gaza Strip is a huge open-air archaeological site, if we do nothing, everything will disappear in the coming years.”

“It’s on private property and one kilometer from the western border, which is relatively sensitive in the context of the local conflict. Anything can happen, at any time.”

René Elter, researcher at the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem

at franceinfo

“Without funding, we will not be able to preserve it and, because of the situation, they will try to sell it. We do not have the means”, deplores René Elter. To finish probing, delimiting and securing the site, the archaeologists only need a few thousand euros.