Schoolboy finds Greek inscription on Byzantine burial slab while hunting for mushrooms.
13-year-old Stav Meir, a resident of Caesarea, went out a week ago with his brothers, cousins, and father Zohar, to look for mushrooms in the Caesarea area after the rains. Suddenly, he saw a stone slab protruding out of the ground. He quickly called his father and showed him the intriguing object, which was inscribed with Greek letters.
“I immediately recognized that it was something ancient...I studied archeology in school together with the Israel Antiquities Authority, therefore I can easily identify antiquities when I see them.”
The excited Stav, who understood the importance of reporting such a find, quickly reported his discovery of the slab with the Greek inscription to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), and an archaeologist came to collect it for research.
Stav Meir holding the inscribed burial slab. Photo: Karem Said, Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority
According to the archaeologist Dr. Peter Gendelman, a Caesarea researcher at the IAA, "This is a burial inscription - a marble slab with an inscription engraved in Greek, and started with a cross.” The slab, which apparently indicated the grave's location in the cemetery and the identity of the deceased, reads: "The grave of .... and of Anastasius, or Anastasia ......" Gendelman added that, "Already, in ancient times, Caesarea was a center of attraction for a wealthy population. The quality of the slab discovered by Stav indicates the wealthy status of the person entombed, as well as the customs and beliefs of inhabitants of Caesarea in the Byzantine period. This inscription joins a large collection of burial inscriptions previously discovered around ancient Caesarea."
During the Byzantine period, the wealthy residents of Caesarea built magnificent mansions in the suburbs of the city. These buildings gave their owners a quality of life allowing them to enjoy the rural character of the area on one hand and proximity to the heart of the city on the other. To this day, sections of five magnificent mansions have been discovered, each covering an extensive area. The best known of these five is the 'Bird Mosaic' mansion, whose area is estimated to cover a dunam and a half (about 0.4 acres). Most of the floors in the sections of the complex that have been excavated were colorful mosaics, and some are open to the public today.
According to Mr. Karem Said, Haifa District Archaeologist at the IAA, "The country's recent rainstorms have uncovered archeological finds buried in the ground. The IAA is pleased and proud with Stav's good citizenship, and the actual application of the knowledge he has acquired with us in the classroom and in the field. The finding of this inscription enriches archeological knowledge and our understanding of ancient Caesarea. We awarded Stav a Certificate of Appreciation for his good citizenship, and we will come to his class for a special lesson addressing the discovery he made. We urge citizens to be our partners in preserving the treasures of the land. Let us know if you discover archeological finds that have surfaced in the rain."
Karem Said presenting Stav Meir with a Certificate of Appreciation. Photo: Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority
Thousands of schoolchildren across the country study archeology with the IAA. The curriculum breathes life into ancient times and cultures through classroom and field studies which combine archeological finds, puzzles, workshops, archaeological excavations, and tours. The activities break the routine and connect children and youth in the country to those who lived here before them, tightening the chain of generations. The program operates in schools in all sectors and across the country, with each archaeological center having its own specialty tailored to the nature of the area and the sites under its jurisdiction. The IAA invites schools to join this unique program - details at education@israntique.org.il
Israel Antiquities Authority Press Release, January 22, 2020