"Archaeological Miracle" in Jerusalem: "My Heart Leapt Out of My Chest" Says Discoverer of Christian Pilgrim Inscription

Amanda Borschel-Dan : Aug 23, 2017
Times of Israel

"In the Byzantine period, with the emergence of Christianity, churches, monasteries and hostels for pilgrims were built in the area north of the gate, and the area became one of the most important and active areas of the city." -David Gellman

(Israel)—[Times of Israel] An extremely rare ancient early Christian Greek inscription has been discovered about a kilometer north of Jerusalem's Old City. The once-in-a-lifetime dream archaeological find was discovered by chance during infrastructure work for a phone cable. (Photo: An archaeologist works on part of a 1,500-year-old mosaic floor bearing the names of Byzantine Emperor Justinian, at the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem/AFP Photo/Ahmad Gharabli/via TimesofIsrael.com)

The intact 1,500-year-old mosaic was uncovered in the flooring of what is thought to have been a pilgrim hostel during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian. Israel Antiquities Authority director of excavation David Gellman was supervising the salvage dig ahead of the placement of Partner communications cable infrastructure outside American Consulate buildings in East Jerusalem.

Gellman called the find "extremely exciting," saying...

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