Français
Español
English
Portuguese
The excavation exposed mosaic-decorated buildings, ritual baths, and an olive oil press.
By Shula Rosen
Archaeologists have uncovered a 1,600-year-old Samaritan agricultural estate in Kafr Qasim, central Israel, revealing a rare glimpse into the community’s prosperity during the late Roman and Byzantine periods.
The excavation, carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the Ministry of Construction and Housing ahead of a new neighborhood development, exposed mosaic-decorated buildings, ritual baths, and an olive oil press.
The site, part of the Khirbet Kafr Hatta archaeological zone, was home to a Samaritan settlement that flourished for roughly 400 years.
Historical sources describe it as the birthplace of Menander, a Samaritan magician and early Gnostic figure.
Excavation directors Alla Nagorsky and Dr. Daniel Leahy Griswold said the estate’s size and rich detail highlight the community’s affluence.
“The quality of the mosaic floors and the scale of the installations point to significant wealth and prosperity,” they said in a press release.
One of the most striking finds was a floor adorned with dense geometric patterns, acanthus leaves, and vivid depictions of fruits and vegetables, including grapes, dates, and artichokes.
A partially preserved Greek inscription at the entrance offered the owner good luck, with a name common among Samaritan communities.
The northern sector of the estate featured an elaborate olive press and a mikveh, suggesting that olive oil production was conducted under ritual purity.
The installation included screw presses and a crushing basin, a design more typical of Judea than Samaria.
Over time, the estate shifted from luxury living to agricultural production, with walls built across earlier mosaics and architectural fragments reused.
Nagorsky linked these changes to the Samaritan revolts under Byzantine rule, which brought harsh restrictions.
Unlike many other sites destroyed in those uprisings, this estate remained in use and retained its Samaritan identity, confirmed by ceramic oil lamps uncovered there.
“This site reveals the full arc of the Samaritan community, from prosperity to decline,” Nagorsky said. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu added that the discovery stresses the shared history of Jews and Samaritans. “These findings remind us that our heritage in this land is both deep and multi-layered,” he said.
Do You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too!
Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion.
Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!
