Gaza farmer discovers ancient treasure while planting olive tree

A Palestinian farmer in the Gaza Strip has discovered a rare mosaic on his property.

The man says he stumbled upon it while planting an olive tree last spring and quietly excavated it over several months with his son.

Experts say the ornate mosaic is one of the greatest archaeological treasures ever found in Gaza.

The discovery has set off excitement among archaeologists, and the territory's Hamas rulers are planning a major announcement in the coming days.

But it is also drawing calls for better protection of Gaza’s antiquities, a fragile collection of sites threatened by a lack of awareness and resources as well as the constant risk of conflict between Israel and local Palestinian militants.

The mosaic was uncovered just a kilometer (half mile) from the Israeli border.

The floor, boasting 17 iconographies of beasts and birds, is well-preserved and its colors are bright.

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The owner of the land, who refused to be identified before the official announcement, has covered the unearthed portion of the mosaic floor with tin sheets.

He said he hopes to receive compensation for protecting the unique discovery on his property.

The patch of land holding the mosaic is about 500 square meters (5,400 square feet) and three dug-out spots reveal glimpses of the mosaic.

The largest of the holes in the ground, about 2 meters by 3 meters (6 feet by 9 feet), has the 17 drawings of animals.

The other two show intricate patterns of tiles.

Roots of an old olive tree have damaged parts of the mosaic, which appears to be about 23 square meters (250 square feet) altogether in size.