BYU grad, prof help discover Samson mosaic as ancient synagogue is unearthedFortunately, he knew there was a floor to be found and he had a gentle touch with the hoe.
Israel dig » Mosaic shows biblical hero tying torches to foxes.
By Brian maffly| The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published 7 hours ago • Updated 2 hours ago
Bryan Bozung was fresh out of Brigham Young University when he lit out for Israel this summer to volunteer on an excavation of the ancient village of Huqoq on Galilee’s western shore. Hoeing debris that filled what is believed to be a 1,500-year-old synagogue, Bozung’s tool hit what proved to be the synagogue’s floor and an important archaeological discovery.
Looking at the ground, he saw a woman’s face staring up at him. For the team of archaeologists working the Huqoq dig, the striking mosaic was proof they were uncovering a structure that could shed new light on Jewish life and religious worship during the late Roman era.
"It was incredible to be the first to expose this face, this beautiful piece of art," said Bozung, a Highland resident who starts graduate work in religious studies at Yale this fall.
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