Bulldozers digging for an Egyptian-funded housing project in the Gaza Strip unearthed the ruins of a tomb dating back to the Roman era, Hamas authorities said Monday.
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The Palestinian Tourism and Archaeology Ministry said its crews seized objects uncovered in the tomb and asked for construction work to be stopped. An independent archaeologist said, however, that photos he saw suggest the site was a cemetery rather than a tomb.
Local media reports said people, some of them using donkey-drawn carts, have looted many artifacts from the site in northwest Gaza City. Residents in the area said archaeological objects including casket covers and inscribed bricks were found a week before the ministry's announcement.
Gaza, a coastal enclave home to more than 2 million people, is known for its rich history stemming from its location on ancient trade routes between Egypt and the Levant.
An independent archaeologist briefed on the issue said photos suggest the site was a cemetery dating back to the late Roman era to the early Byzantine period 1,600 years ago.
"They indicate that a Roman temple or a Byzantine church are nearby," said the expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Last week, Hamas authorities sponsored the inauguration of a 5th-century Byzantine church that was restored by local and international non-governmental organizations as a museum. But the same authorities in 2017 destroyed large parts of a Canaanite settlement dating back 4,500 years to make room for housing projects for their own employees.
