Mosaics, mikvehs and oil lamps found at grand estate shed new light on ancient Samaritans. Unprecedented 4th century site recently uncovered by archaeologists in central Israel offers insights into the life of the Israelite sect — and opens many new questions (Rossella Tercatin, Times of Israel).
A magnificent agricultural estate, active between the 4th and 7th centuries CE, has recently been uncovered in Kafr Qasim, central Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Tuesday.In Israel, a Festival of Fruit Adorns a Spectacular Ancient Samaritan Site. An estate from the early Christian era found in Kafr Qasem shows the rise and decline of the Samaritans in Byzantine times as luxury was replaced by the industrial production of olive oil (Ruth Schuster, Haaretz).The site offers striking evidence of its ties to the ancient Samaritan community. Yet, many mysteries surrounding its inhabitants and their lives remain, one of the archaeologists excavating the site told The Times of Israel.
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That said, the site was just a 10-minute walk from a Roman road that would likely have been used to sell the estate's products. The place also falls within the archaeological span of Khirbet Kafr Hatta, birthplace of Menander, the Samaritan magician who succeeded the famed Simon Magus, who could levitate and converted to Christianity, according to early Christian sources. Hence he needed a successor.
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