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An impressive 1600-year-old mosaic was discovered before the establishment of a neighborhood in Yavne

A colorful rug of a mosaic floor from the 4th century AD, decorated with wonderful geometric patterns, was uncovered in an excavation before the construction of a new neighborhood in Yavne.

According to archaeologists, it may have served as the floor of a magnificent residence.

After cleaning work, the mosaic will be displayed at the City Hall of Culture

Tags

• Israel Antiquities Authority

• mosaic

• Yavne

Ziv Reinstein

Monday, April 26, 2021, 9:00 p.m.

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Decorated with geometric and colorful patterns, and bordered by a black rectangular frame.

The mosaic is being built (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Assaf Peretz)

A spectacular 1600-year-old mosaic was discovered in archeological excavations in Yavne, before the establishment of a new neighborhood in the city.

The colorful mosaic floor, dating to the Byzantine period (4th century AD), was discovered in an area managed by Avishag Rice of the Israel Antiquities Authority southeast of Tel Yavne, which revealed a large industrial area that had been active for centuries.

The floor is decorated with geometric and colorful patterns, and here has a black rectangular frame. "At first we did not notice at all that it was a colored floor," say Dr. Eli Hadad and Dr. Hagit Torga. "We thought it was a simple white mosaic floor from another industrial facility. But black dots that protruded from the mosaic hinted to us that it was colored, and the white patina layer that had accumulated on it over the years should be removed. The conservation manager went into cleaning the mosaic using a special acid," they say. "To the amazement of us all, a colorful mosaic floor rug, decorated with geometric patterns, was discovered."

According to archaeologists, this is the first time such a floor has been exposed in Yavne, and its preservation is excellent.

In their estimation, "it is possible that the floor was part of a luxurious residence, which belonged to the affluent neighborhood that was located near the industrial area."

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Probably part of an affluent house floor.

The mosaic floor (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Assaf Peretz)

The Yavne Archaeological Excavation Area (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Assaf Peretz)

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"At first we did not notice that it was a colored floor"

In recent years, the Israel Antiquities Authority has been conducting a large-scale archeological excavation southeast of Tel Yavne, as part of a project by the Israel Land Authority to expand the city.

In the excavation, conducted by Dr. Eli Hadad, Liat Nadav-Ziv and Dr. John Seligman.

After documenting the mosaic in the field, drawing and photographing it, the mosaic was temporarily removed and transferred to the

Mosaic

Workshop

of the Antiquities Authority at the Rockefeller Museum, where it was treated and preserved with the help of experts from the authority's conservation director.

In cooperation between the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Yavneh Municipality, which works to make archeology accessible to residents, and with the assistance of the Israel Land Authority, a suitable place for the mosaic was found - in the plaza near the Yavneh Hall of Culture.

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"Black dots that protruded from the mosaic hinted to us that it was colorful" (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Assaf Peretz)

The mosaic was temporarily removed and transferred to the Mosaic Workshop's mosaic workshop at the Rockefeller Museum (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Assaf Peretz)

These days, the municipality is working on preparing the infrastructure on which the mosaic will be laid, for the benefit of the residents of Yavne and the general public.

The preservation work of the mosaic and its placement in its new place will be carried out according to ancient technology, and similar materials used in ancient times will be used.

During the work, the site will be open to the general public so that everyone can enjoy and see the process of conservation work and mosaic display.

Diego Barkan, an archaeologist from the Tel Aviv District of the Israel Antiquities Authority, welcomes the fruitful cooperation with the Israel Land Authority and the Yavne Municipality, for the benefit of the public.

"I am happy that the mosaic will be displayed in a central location in the city, so that the heritage values ​​will be preserved and made accessible to the wide."

The mayor of Yavne, Zvi Gov-Ari, said that "the preservation of archeology and memory are important values ​​in the life of the city of Yavne, which has a glorious history. In an era of progress and accelerated development in all areas of life, "The various periods. We will continue to work with the Israel Antiquities Authority to ensure that the findings are exposed to the general public and that the learning and knowledge of the city's past and historical importance is deepened."

The municipality for preparing the infrastructure on which the mosaic will be laid for the benefit of the public.

The mosaic on its site (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Assaf Peretz)

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