Islamic-era industrial complex in the middle of nowhere, Ramat Gan puzzles archaeologists
Under the parking lot of the Winter Stadium in central Israel is a seventh-century complex with streets, shops or storerooms and workshops, but where's the city?
In Ramat Gan, a city located east of Tel Aviv, an ancient industrial-commercial complex from the Islamic period has been discovered beneath the parking lot of Winter Stadium. This complex, dating back to the late seventh to early ninth centuries, puzzled archaeologists as there was no city or settlement found connected to it. The complex, operational for roughly 150 years, featured two intersecting streets with rooms that archaeologists believe served as shops, warehouses, or workshops.
However, only the foundations and some walls remain. The site, though not a city, is one of the oldest streets found in Ramat Gan, a location known for archaeological finds spanning almost 2 million years. The complex operated until the late ninth century, after which it was abandoned, possibly due to political turmoil or natural disasters in the 11th century.
The site was resettled during the mid-10th or early 11th century, and then abandoned again before the Crusader invasion. The identity of its occupants remains unknown, as the artifacts found do not provide clear evidence of their ethnic or religious background. The complex's purpose remains a mystery, with the archaeologists speculating it could have been an ancient roadside service area, a travel stop along the routes connecting Jaffa, Ramle, and Jerusalem.
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