Photo: Fatima Shbair | AP Photo
In the Gaza Strip and less than a kilometer from the Israeli border, a farmer recently discovered stunning, rare, ancient mosaic tiles while tending to the olive trees in his orchard. The mosaic floor tiles -- featuring images of animals and complex geometric designs -- date back to the Byzantine era (313-1453 AD) and are very well-preserved. In recent years, other Byzantine antiquities have also been unearthed in this culturally-rich region, prompting urgent calls for protection of ancient archaeological finds in the Gaza Strip from potential damage caused by military bombings, city development projects, and improper care of the archaeological sites.
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