Aerial view of the excavation in Jerusalem.
Credit: Skyview Company, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority
Posted on 06/13/2015 3:41:49 PM PDT by NYer
A 1,500-year-old church has been discovered at a Byzantine period rest stop on the road connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, archaeologists announced today (June 10).
The ancient road station and church, uncovered during a highway construction project, sit next to a seep spring called 'Ain Naqa'a, which is on the outskirts of Moshav Bet Neqofa, a settlement in Jerusalem.
Along the old road, which was likely paved in the Roman period, "other settlements and road stations have previously been discovered that served those traveling the route in ancient times," Annette Nagar, the director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in a statement. "This road station ceased to be used at the end of the Byzantine period, although the road beside which it was built was renewed and continued to be in use until modern times."
The newly excavated church had a white mosaic floor measuring about 52 feet long (16 meters), with a side chapel 21 feet by 11 feet (6.5 m by 3.4 m). A baptismal font ("baptisterium"), which is a fixture that can hold water for baptisms, sat in the chapel's northeast corner. It was in the shape of a four-leaf clover, reminiscent of the cross. [Photos: Peering Into a 12th-Century Byzantine Monastery]
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
A baptismal font from the excavation in Jerusalem. Credit: Annette Nagar, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority
Catholic ping!
Ping!
Israelis are doing their version of 5 freeway construction found this
Hojowitz
Hojowitz
LOL!!!!
Oh my....stunning
The small lamp is exquisite. Reminds me of the biblical parable of the brides with the trimmed lamps and the other half who had no oil.
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