Archaeologists uncover a 1,500-year-old Byzantine Monastery in Israel

The findings, part of an excavation conducted in preparation for the development of a new neighborhood in the southern Israeli city, offer a rare glimpse into a settlement that flourished during the Roman and Byzantine periods.

The centerpiece of the discovery is a colorful mosaic floor adorned with a Greek inscription of a Biblical verse from Deuteronomy saying, “Blessed are you when you come in and blessed are you when you go out.” The mosaic, dating back to the 5th-6th centuries CE, features crosses, lions, doves, amphorae, flowers, and geometric patterns created with meticulously arranged small stones.

“This is the largest and most significant site discovered in the region from the Roman and Byzantine periods,” said Shira Lifshitz and Maayan Margulis, the Antiquities Authority’s excavation managers. “The findings indicate continuous settlement from the early Roman period through the late Byzantine period.”

Alongside the monastery, the excavation revealed an advanced winepress that underwent multiple renovations over centuries. The press features mosaic floors in the fermentation rooms and collecting vats, with remnants of red paint still visible on plastered surfaces. The Antiquities Authority said the winepress’s large-scale production and elaborate design indicated it served not just local needs but also contributed to regional trade.

Greek letters etched into stone slabs used as masonry suggested that highly skilled labor and resources were invested in constructing this facility, the Authority noted.

The site also yielded a wealth of artifacts, including imported wares, coins, marble elements, metal tools, and glass vessels, pointing to a prosperous community. According to the Antiquities Authority, evidence of local pottery production, such as flawed vessels and garbage pits, further indicated the community’s self-sufficiency and industrial capabilities.

“The early settlement is sited on a central road junction connecting the mountain region to the coastal plain. It apparently served the area’s smaller settlements as well as travelers passing by. This is the largest and most significant Roman and Byzantine period site uncovered in this area. The findings indicate a succession of settlements starting from the early Roman period (1st century CE) and through until the end of the Byzantine period,” Margulis said.

The Roman-era remains, though less extensive, also reveal a community marked by richness in material culture.

Plans are underway to preserve and showcase the mosaic floor in a public space within the city. “Transferring mosaics is a complex process requiring great skill and precision,” said Mark Avrahami, the Antiquities Authority’s head of Artistic Conservation.

The modern city of Kiryat Gat was established in 1955 as a development town to provide housing for Jewish immigrants, particularly from North Africa and Eastern Europe. The town was named after the biblical city of Gath, one of the five Philistine cities mentioned in the Bible, which is believed to have been located nearby.

Other nearby archaeological sites include Tel Haror, which is identified with the Biblical city of Gerar, and Tel Erani, which dates back to the Early Bronze age (circa 3000 BCE). Artifacts from these sites contribute significantly to understanding the Canaanite, Philistine, and Israelite civilizations that once thrived in this part of the Levant.

“Urban expansion projects provide a unique opportunity to connect communities with the historical narratives of their surroundings,” said Antiquities Authority director Eli Escusido.