BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

Excavations at Beersheba Bus Station Expose the Heart of the Byzantine City

Bible and Archaeology News

When the Israel Antiquity Authority began excavating before renovations at the Beersheba bus station, they did not know that they were sitting just above the center of a Byzantine city. The recently completed excavations exposed two well-preserved churches, a Roman camp and several other structures. Surprisingly, most of the rooms were empty with no signs of destruction, suggesting that the residents left the area of their own accord.

The Byzantine site is remarkably well preserved due to centuries of abandonment following Arab invasions in the seventh century C.E. and recent coverage by the bus station itself. After months of public exposure to the site, a conservation crew will work to preserve the site before re-covering and protecting the remains from the construction of the new Beersheba bus station. Artifacts from the recent excavation will be placed on display at the new bus station.

The recently completed excavations at the Beersheba bus station exposed two well-preserved churches, a Roman camp, and several other structures. Source: Jerusalem Post, Photo by: YOCHEVED MIRIAM RUSSO