WATCH: Archaeologists unearth 1,300-year-old ‘shopping hub’ beneath stadium in central Israel

A 1,300-year-old industrial and commercial complex was uncovered during excavations over the past few months in the Winter Stadium parking lot in Ramat Gan, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Sunday morning.

The excavations, which took place ahead of the construction of a large bus terminal by Netivei Ayalon at the site, revealed ancient streets, pottery kilns and several industrial buildings.

According to the IAA, the earliest parts of the site date to the seventh or eighth century CE, during the Umayyad and Abbasid periods, and the later sections date to the Fatimid period.

While nearby communities at the time were home to Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Samaritans, the excavations did not uncover any artifacts with a clear indication of a certain religious or ethnic group.

However, IAA researchers have proposed two main theories about what the site served as: either a major trade and industrial station or part of a currently undiscovered nearby settlement.

Site abandoned twice 

The site is estimated to have been operational for about 150 years before being abandoned for reasons researchers do not yet know, but it was later resettled in the 10th century CE.

Residents built buildings and production facilities there, and installed numerous tabuns (clay baking ovens). 

In the late 11th century CE, before the Crusader conquest, the site was abandoned once again and was never resettled.

In addition to the ruins, archaeologists unearthed dozens of pottery vessels and intact oil lamps, along with numerous bronze tableware, cosmetic implements, iron pickaxe heads, a sickle, numerous nails, dozens of coins, and a large quantity of fragments of local and imported pottery and glass vessels.

The discoveries provide vivid insight into the period’s culture, trade, and economy.

Discovery 'exceeds all expectations'

While ancient buildings and artifacts have previously been discovered in the area, the recent discovery has “exceeded all expectations,” said IAA Excavation Directors Dr. Yoav Arbel and Lior Rauchberger.

“The excavation uncovered an organized, planned complex featuring straight, intersecting streets,” they said. “Lining these streets were a series of rooms that served as shops or warehouses, plastered industrial facilities, pottery kilns and more.”

“Clearly, its main phase was planned in advance in detail by engineers and was built with the knowledge of the regional authorities, and perhaps even on their initiative and with their funding.”

“Its location was also likely not coincidental,” explained Arbel Rauchberger. “The site was situated near the main road that connected Jaffa, Ramla, then the district capital, and Jerusalem.”

The excavation directors noted that the complex may have stood on a secondary road branching off the main one, adding that the area also offers “fertile agricultural land and available water sources.”

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu stated that the discovery once again demonstrates Israel’s “historical and archaeological wealth,” where “windows onto distant periods of the past may open anywhere.”

The IAA will hold an open day to view the finds on Wednesday, August 19. Afterward, they will be covered to preserve them, and the IAA will weigh the possibility of displaying them to the public again in the future.