WATCH: Ancient shopping center unearthed during excavations prior to construction in central Israel

An extensive 1,300-year-old industrial and commercial complex has been discovered during recent excavations in Ramat Gan, central Israel. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the find on Sunday, revealing that the site, located in the Winter Stadium parking lot, dates back to the Umayyad, Abbasid, and Fatimid periods.

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The excavation uncovered an organized, planned complex featuring straight, intersecting streets.

Excavations, conducted ahead of the construction of a large bus terminal, uncovered ancient streets, numerous pottery kilns, and several industrial buildings. IAA researchers have proposed two primary theories regarding the site's function: it may have been a significant trade and industrial hub, or it was connected to a nearby settlement yet to be discovered. The site was operational for approximately 150 years before its initial abandonment, later being resettled in the 10th century CE and then abandoned again before the Crusader conquest in the late 11th century.

Archaeologists unearthed a wealth of artifacts, including dozens of intact pottery vessels and oil lamps, bronze tableware, cosmetic tools, iron implements, and numerous coins. These discoveries provide a vivid glimpse into the culture, trade, and economy of the era. The IAA excavation directors, Dr. Yoav Arbel and Lior Rauchberger, described the find as exceeding expectations, noting the organized and detailed planning of the complex, including intersecting streets lined with rooms likely used as shops or warehouses.

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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 strategic location near the main road connecting Jaffa, the district capital Ramla, and Jerusalem likely contributed to its importance. The directors suggested the complex might have been situated on a secondary road branching off the main route, benefiting from the region's fertile agricultural land. The discoveries offer significant insights into the daily life and economic activities of the communities that inhabited the area centuries ago.

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