JNS.org - A 1,500-year-old church floor adorned with colorful floral mosaic designs, located east of Ben-Gurion Airport and first identified four decades ago but left uncovered, will soon be accessible for public viewing, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Monday. The fine mosaic is part of the archaeological site of Horvat El-Bira, located in the Shoham
During Israel's winter rainy season, parts of Israel are covered with beautiful anemones, small flowers that grow wild here. Artists from 1,500 years ago may have noticed and appreciated them as well, because floral artwork on the mosaic floor of a 1,500-year-old Byzantine church, found between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, strongly resembles the anemones. The church floor was discovered in the 1980's but has been covered over since that time. Now, the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA), working with the Shoham Regional Council near Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport has once again uncovered the mosaic floor, making it a visitor's site on the Israel National Trail.
A Byzantine mosaic has been restored on the Trans-Israel Highway at the site of an ancient rest stop. The rest stop will now be resurrected for hikers on the Israel National Trail.