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At Least 125 Tombs Discovered at Roman-Era Cemetery in Gaza 

Palestinian engineers work in a Roman-era cemetery in Gaza, July 23, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinian engineers work in a Roman-era cemetery in Gaza, July 23, 2023. (Reuters)
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At Least 125 Tombs Discovered at Roman-Era Cemetery in Gaza 

Palestinian engineers work in a Roman-era cemetery in Gaza, July 23, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinian engineers work in a Roman-era cemetery in Gaza, July 23, 2023. (Reuters)

Archaeologists working on a 2,000-year-old Roman cemetery discovered in Gaza last year have found at least 125 tombs, most with skeletons still largely intact, and two rare lead sarcophaguses, the Palestinian Ministry of Antiquities said.

The impoverished Palestinian territory was an important trading post for civilizations as far back as the ancient Egyptians and the Philistines depicted in the Bible, through the Roman empire and the crusades.

In the past, local archaeologists reburied findings for lack of funding but French organizations have helped excavate this site, discovered in February last year by a construction crew working on an Egyptian-funded housing project.

"It is the first time in Palestine we have discovered a cemetery that has 125 tombs, and it is the first time in Gaza we have discovered two sarcophaguses made of lead," Fadel Al-A’utul, an expert at the French School of Biblical and Archeological Research, told Reuters at the site.

One of the two sarcophaguses was decorated with images of grapes and the other with dolphins said A'utul, whose organization is supervising the work with help from French aid agency Premiere Urgance International.

"We need funds to preserve this archeological site so that history does not get washed away," he added.

A'utul said he hoped the site would become a tourist destination, with a museum to display the findings.

At least 25 engineers and technicians were engaged on Sunday, despite the soaring heat, in digging, clearing the dirt, and preserving the skeletons. They have also been piecing together clay jars found inside some of the graves.

"This is unprecedented," said Jamal Abu Reida, General-Director of Gaza's Antiquities Ministry.

"It deepens Palestinian roots on this land and shows they date back thousands of years," he said.

Gaza has been under an Israel economic blockade since 2007 when the militant group Hamas, which opposes peace with Israel, took control. The narrow coastal territory's 2.3 million Palestinian residents have since endured several wars.

US-brokered peace talks, aimed at establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, collapsed in 2014 and show no sign of revival.

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Culture

‘Hegra After Dark’ Event Showcases AlUla's History through the Ages

The "Hegra After Dark" cultural event in AlUla. (SPA)
The "Hegra After Dark" cultural event in AlUla. (SPA)
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‘Hegra After Dark’ Event Showcases AlUla's History through the Ages

The "Hegra After Dark" cultural event in AlUla. (SPA)
The "Hegra After Dark" cultural event in AlUla. (SPA)

The "Hegra After Dark" cultural event in AlUla provides an interactive evening featuring live performances, storytelling, and diverse flavors. It highlights Hegra's historical significance and the legacy of the ancient civilizations that inhabited the site.

The event takes place at Hegra Archaeological Site, the first Saudi site listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, lending the experience an exceptional cultural and historical depth and strengthening visitors' connection to the place and its civilizational legacy, the Saudi Press agency said on Tuesday.

This year, the event returns in a reimagined format. Innovative interactive settings invite visitors to uncover daily life in the Nabataean era, from horse-drawn carriages to a bustling theatrical marketplace alive with authentic sights, sounds, and flavors. This sensory journey leads guests through the heart of the ancient world, revealing the long-held secrets of the historic Incense Road.

Recently, the Hegra After Dark event won the Best Arts and Culture Event award at the Middle East Event Awards, affirming its status as one of the Kingdom's and the region's most prominent cultural experiences, and recognizing the rich interactive content it offers, blending the charm of local heritage, the beauty of historical monuments, and innovation in presenting a cultural experience.

Culture

Madrasat Addeera Empowers AlUla Youth Through Traditional Crafts

The school focuses on empowering girls, teaching craft skills rooted in ancestral trades and presenting them in modern ways that create sustainable and creative opportunities - SPA
The school focuses on empowering girls, teaching craft skills rooted in ancestral trades and presenting them in modern ways that create sustainable and creative opportunities - SPA
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Madrasat Addeera Empowers AlUla Youth Through Traditional Crafts

The school focuses on empowering girls, teaching craft skills rooted in ancestral trades and presenting them in modern ways that create sustainable and creative opportunities - SPA
The school focuses on empowering girls, teaching craft skills rooted in ancestral trades and presenting them in modern ways that create sustainable and creative opportunities - SPA

Madrasat Addeera in AlUla Governorate offers specialized training programs and workshops to develop the skills of local youth in traditional crafts and arts, preserving cultural heritage while connecting it to contemporary life.

The school focuses on empowering girls, teaching craft skills rooted in ancestral trades and presenting them in modern ways that create sustainable and creative opportunities, SPA reported.

Throughout the year, the school contributes to the cultural vibrancy of the governorate by taking part in festivals and exhibitions. Through its workshops, visitors can explore traditional industries such as pottery, weaving, carpets, and natural products.

According to SPA, Madrasat Addeera's programs go beyond training, transforming craft skills into sustainable income, with handcrafted items sold locally and online, all entirely Saudi-made and inspired by AlUla’s culture and environment.

Since its establishment as the first girls’ school in AlUla and as the region’s first center for arts and design, the school has become a hub for nurturing talent, rediscovering heritage crafts, and attracting both local and global expertise.

Culture

British Treasury to Cover Bayeux Tapestry for Estimated £800 Million

This photo provided by Bayeux townhall shows a technician inspecting the famed Bayeux tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, in 8th January, 2020. (Ville de Bayeux via AP/File photo)
This photo provided by Bayeux townhall shows a technician inspecting the famed Bayeux tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, in 8th January, 2020. (Ville de Bayeux via AP/File photo)
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British Treasury to Cover Bayeux Tapestry for Estimated £800 Million

This photo provided by Bayeux townhall shows a technician inspecting the famed Bayeux tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, in 8th January, 2020. (Ville de Bayeux via AP/File photo)
This photo provided by Bayeux townhall shows a technician inspecting the famed Bayeux tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, in 8th January, 2020. (Ville de Bayeux via AP/File photo)

The British Treasury is set to insure the Bayeux Tapestry against damage for an estimated £800 million while it is on loan to the British Museum next year, reported the BBC.

The 70m-long embroidery depicting the Battle of Hastings in 1066 will travel from France to London as part of a deal between the two nations' governments.

The artifact's transit and its time in storage and on display will be covered under the Government Indemnity Scheme (GIS). Indemnity insurance covers situations like loss or damage.

The Treasury said without the long-standing scheme, “public museums and galleries would face a substantial commercial insurance premium, which would be significantly less cost effective.”

There are concerns about the move, as some French art experts have suggested the nearly 1,000-year-old work was in far too a delicate state to be transported - something French officials have denied.

It is understood the Treasury has received an initial valuation for covering the Bayeux Tapestry that has been provisionally approved. The loan will not be formally confirmed until it receives the final valuation.

That final valuation is estimated to be around £800 million.

The Bayeux Tapestry will be displayed in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery of the British Museum from next September until July 2027 while its current home, the Bayeux Museum, undergoes renovations.

Comprising 58 scenes, 626 characters and 202 horses, the huge masterpiece charts a contested time in Anglo-French relations when William The Conqueror took the English throne from Harold Godwinson, becoming the first Norman king of England.

The government's indemnity scheme allows art and cultural objects to be shown publicly in the UK which "might not have been otherwise because the cost of insurance would have been too high".

The scheme - first set up in 1980 - has facilitated numerous high-value loans, including Vincent van Gogh's 1888 work "The Bedroom" to the National Gallery.

In exchange for the Bayeux Tapestry, the British Museum will loan items to France, including the 7th Century Anglo-Saxon artifacts discovered at the Sutton Hoo burial site in Suffolk and the 12th Century Lewis chess pieces.