A team of archaeologists has uncovered well-preserved ruins of an abandoned Byzantine monastery and a farmhouse in the Negev Desert, dating back to the 6th century. Among the findings, researchers discovered a unique mosaic. This was reported by the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“The monastery may have been abandoned during the transition to the early Islamic period due to deteriorating security conditions in the region,” suggested Nir-Shimson Paran, the excavation leader.
The Discoveries Held Many Secrets
Within the monastery complex, scientists found a chapel, a dining hall, a kitchen, service rooms, and even a wine press. According to the researchers, “the main building had thick walls, giving it the appearance of a fortified structure.”
One of the most striking discoveries was the unique mosaic in the chapel. “At the center of the mosaic is a Maltese cross, and beneath it, framed, is a three-line Greek inscription mentioning the name of the monastery and the names of four monks who lived there,” the scientists reported.
In the adjacent rooms, numerous artifacts related to the daily life of the monks were found. “A cone-shaped depression in the mosaic floor likely served as a storage place for a vessel,” noted the project leader. Among the artifacts were ceramics dated to 460–475 AD and a cooking pot, as reported by Arkeonews.
In the stone-paved apse, archaeologists discovered two tombs. “At the eastern end of the southern tomb, a cross was engraved,” Paran remarked. Items such as an altar partition column, a bronze hook, chains, and glass lamps led researchers to believe that this area was used for liturgical purposes.
A thick layer of ash in the kitchen indicated that food was actively prepared there. Additionally, “the lower half of a jug, which was embedded in the floor, likely served as a small oven.”
The monastery also had its own winery: “In the northeastern part of the agricultural wing, a pressing floor (5.7 × 6.0 m) with a slope to the south was discovered.” The team also unearthed a lime pit and what appeared to be a cistern.
To the south of the monastery, archaeologists found a farmhouse from the same period. The structure included a rectangular watchtower with a small window. On the floor, the researchers discovered a coin dated to the first half of the 6th century.
The Israel Antiquities Authority noted that this discovery sheds light on the daily lives of the monks who inhabited this area during the Byzantine era.