Russian historic community presented a book named Byzantine Jericho. Excavations a century after. The book contains results of excavation works of Russian Archaeologists, as per RIA Novosti.
First archaeologic excavations on the territory of the Russian museum-park complex in Jericho were conducted at the end of XIX century, but later World War I broke out and the scientists could not complete the works.
The excavations were resumed only in 2011, a hundred years later, when the Russian museum complex began to work.
Scientific worker from the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Leonid Beliaev did not believe at first that authorities would allow continuing the research activities begun a hundred years ago, but, fortunately, the scientist and his team were permitted to lead a full-size archaeological excavations which last until the present time.
The scientists investigated the Byzantine cultural layer formed between V-VII centuries. In that period, there was a boost of Christian temples’ construction on the Holy Land. In the course of the research, the archaeologists discovered many artefacts: Byzantine mosaic, coins of different epochs, ceramics, and traces of the Arab presence.
Leonid Beliaev has regretfully advised that Russia does not have permanent archaeological base on the Holy Land. However, the scientist has expressed hope that Russian archaeologists will be able to establish archaeological research office here in future.
Russkiy Mir
