Jaffa archeological discovery: liquid extraction facility

Archaeological excavations of the Israel Antiquities Authority as a result of the municipality's wish to perform infrastructure renewal in the area of Magen Avraham project, provide a glimpse of hundreds of years of glorious history that lies beneath the busy roads. Recently impressive remains of an industrial facility for extracting liquids from the Byzantine period, were discovered on Hai Gaon street.

Such facilities are often identified as winepresses for making wine from grapes, and they may have also been used for the production of wine or beer and other fruits grown in the region. A similar facility was found in the flea market area. In general, the agricultural tradition of Jaffa has a rich and varied history of thousands of years, starting from references of the city and its fertile fields in ancient Egyptian documents, and up to Jaffa orchards in the Ottoman era.

According to Dr. Yoav Arbel, director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This is the first major building from the Byzantine period discovered in this part of the city. The fact that the installation was relatively far from Tel Yafo, adds a significant dimension to our knowledge about the impressive agricultural layout in this period. The facility, probably dating to the second half of the Byzantine period (sixth century - beginning of the 7th century CE), is divided by paved surfaces with white industrial mosaic. Such surfaces are common in liquids extraction facilities of that period, due to their sealing ability. Each unit was connected to a plastered collecting vat. The pressing was done on the mosaic surfaces when fluid was drained into the pits. It is possible that the piece which was discovered represents a relatively small section of the facility as a whole, and other parts of it may be expected later this year in excavations in adjacent streets. "

At the end of the excavation the facility was covered, and new infrastructures were laid on top without damaging it, enabling the continued work of the infrastructure without compromising the conservation of the facility for future generations.

The Magen Avraham complex project is another step in the development of the tourist, commercial and residential area in Jaffa - the project includes seven streets: Noam, Magen Avraham, Hai Gaon, Yossi Ben Yossei, Ardon, Ba'alei Hatosafot and Reish Galuta.

In the project the municipality is renewing underground infrastructure, the roads and sidewalks. In addition, overhead electricity networks and telecommunications are being laid, and street furniture and landscaping is integrated.

The infrastructure development is preceded by excavations of the Israel Antiquities Authority, as the area is a declared an official antiquities site. Similar to previous findings which were exposed, the project that reflected the cooperation and balance between historical and archaeological preservation – for the development required

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