Rahat, Israel, Aug 23 (AFP\/APP): Israeli archaeologists unveiled a 1,200 year-old mansion on Tuesday, broadening knowledge of the southern desert region where a mosque was recently discovered.<\/p>\n
Described as a “luxurious rural estate” by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the home boasted a marble-paved hallway and walls decorated with frescoes.<\/p>\n
The first building of its kind to be found in the southern Negev desert, according to the IAA, it contained vaulted rooms around a central courtyard.<\/p>\n
The remains of oil lamps were unearthed in storage rooms underground, along with a cistern.<\/p>\n
“The luxurious estate and the unique impressive underground vaults are evidence of the owners’ means,” said a statement from the archaeologists leading the excavations.<\/p>\n
“Their high status and wealth allowed them to build a luxurious mansion that served as a residence and for entertaining,” added Oren Shmueli, Elena Kogan-Zehavi and Noe D. Michael.<\/p>\n
“We assume whoever lived here was some local ruler,” Michael told AFP, adding that such estates had been “totally unknown in the Negev until today”.<\/p>\n
The site in the Bedouin city of Rahat is due to be opened to the public on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The estate is close to a rare mosque dating back to the same period, which Israeli archaeologists unveiled in June.
\nA few dozen Muslims likely worshipped at the site at one time, the IAA said.<\/p>\n
The Muslim conquest of the region occurred in the first half of the seventh century.<\/p>\n
“After we finish the excavation (of the mansion), it is planned that this place will be preserved”, alongside other discoveries like the mosque, Michael added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rahat, Israel, Aug 23 (AFP\/APP): Israeli archaeologists unveiled a 1,200 year-old mansion on Tuesday, broadening knowledge of the southern desert region where a mosque was recently discovered. Described as a “luxurious rural estate” by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the home boasted a marble-paved hallway and […]<\/p>\n
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