Two ancient sarcophagi have been discovered during construction at the Ramat Gan Safari, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Thursday.
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Construction workers were building a new wildlife medical center on-site when they came across the ancient coffins that archeologists said are 1,800 years old.
The ornate nature of the sarcophagi suggests that they were most likely made for people of high social standing, IAA researchers Alon Klein and Uzi Rothstein explained.
The coffins date back to the Roman period, 200-300 CE, and bear identical decoration of garlands and discs, suggesting they might have belonged to a husband and wife.
Flower garlands were often used as sarcophagi decorations in both the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Ancient Romans used disc ornaments to decorate coffins to protect and accompany the soul on its journey to the afterlife.
The original burial site of the sarcophagi is unknown, but archeologists estimate that it was in the vicinity of the safari, in the region of Messubim – modern-day Bnei Brak.
The coffins are currently being kept at the Israel National Treasures Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
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