Archaeologists discover early Byzantine church in Israeli city
Pastor Dale Morgan
Archaeologists discover early Byzantine church in Israeli city*
By DPA
Aug 9, 2007, 13:14 GMT
Jerusalem - Israeli archaeologists working in the northern city of
Tiberias have uncovered the remains of an ancient Byzantine church paved
with mosaics decorated with geometric patterns and dedicatory
inscriptions, the Antiquities Authority confirmed Thursday.
One of the inscriptions contains the text, 'Our Lord (Jesus) protect the
soul of your servant. ..' which the Authority said the appears to refute
the claim that Jews of Tiberias prevented early Christians from
establishing a church in their city.
Another mosaic was adorned with a large cross, leading Doctor Moshe
Hartal, one of the directors of the excavations, to conclude that the
structure was built before 427 AD, the year the Church issued a decree
prohibiting the placement of crosses in mosaic floors, in order to
prevent them from being stepped on.
The church's remains were discovered adjacent to ancient public
buildings among them a basilica, bathhouse, streets and shops that were
exposed at the site in the past.
The remains of a Jewish neighbourhood dating to the tenth-eleventh
centuries AD were also discovered in the excavations, as were buildings
replete with a wealth of ceramic vessels that dating to the Early
Islamic period (eighth-eleventh centuries AD.)
In addition a settlement was discovered that from the Early Bronze Age
(from 5,000 years ago), which the Authority said proves that the
Tiberias region was inhabited in periods earlier than those mentioned in
the historical sources.
The excavations were carried out during the past three months.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur