According to the Palestinian Ministry of Antiquities, archaeologists excavating a 2,000-year-old Roman cemetery uncovered in Gaza last year have discovered at least 125 graves, the majority of which still retain most of the corpses inside, as well as two unusual lead sarcophagi.
From the biblical Philistines and ancient Egyptians through the Roman empire and the Crusades, various civilizations have used the poor Palestinian area as a major commerce hub.
Due to a lack of finance, local archaeologists in the past had to rebury their discoveries, but French organizations have assisted in the excavation of this site, which was found in February of last year by a construction crew working on a housing project funded by Egypt.
Fadel Al-A’utul, a specialist at the French School of Biblical and Archeological Research, told Reuters at the site: “It is the first time in Palestine we have discovered a cemetery with 125 tombs, and it is the first time in Gaza we have discovered two sarcophaguses made of lead.”
According to A’utul, whose organization is overseeing the operation with assistance from French humanitarian organization Premiere Urgence International, one of the two sarcophaguses was painted with images of grapes and the other with dolphins.
“We need funds to preserve this archeological site so that history does not get washed away,” he continued.
On Sunday, despite the intense heat, at least 25 engineers and technicians worked to dig, remove the dirt, and preserve the skeletons. The clay pots that were discovered inside some of the burials are also being pieced together.
Since 2007, when the Islamist militant organization Hamas, which is opposed to peace with Israel, assumed control, Gaza has been subject to an Israeli-Egyptian economic siege. Since then, multiple wars have been endured by the 2.3 million Palestinians who live in the little coastal region.
The West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem Palestinian state-building negotiations that were being mediated by the United States broke down in 2014 and have not recovered.
