Ancient Ship Drawings Discovered in Byzantine Church Walls in Israel’s Negev
Recent excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the Northern Negev have uncovered 1,500-year-old church walls adorned with drawings of contemporary ships, believed to have been left by Christian pilgrims. The findings were made in Rahat as part of a city expansion project to accommodate Bedouin residents, funded by the Authority for Development and Settlement of the Bedouin in the Negev.
According to excavation directors Oren Shmueli, Dr. Elena Kogan-Zehavi, Dr. Noé David Michael, and Prof. Deborah Cvikel from the University of Haifa’s Department of Maritime Civilizations, the drawings likely represent the ships that carried these pilgrims to the Holy Land through the Gaza port. The site’s proximity to an ancient Roman road, leading from Gaza to Beersheba, suggests it was a significant stop for pilgrims traveling to sacred Christian sites.
The church art includes a line drawing of a ship with a pointed bow and oars, indicating a detailed understanding of maritime technology of the time. Another drawing features a two-masted ship, with the artist’s detailed depiction reflecting familiarity with maritime life.
“This is a greeting from Christian pilgrims,” the excavation team explained, highlighting the significance of these discoveries in understanding the region’s history and the pilgrims’ journeys.
The finds will be showcased for the first time at the Rahat Conference on June 6, 2024, at the Rahat Municipal Cultural Hall. The event is open to the public and aims to shed light on the city and region’s archaeological history.
