1,300-year-old industrial hub uncovered during bus terminal construction in Ramat Gan

A 1,300-year-old industrial and commercial complex has been unearthed during the construction of a new bus terminal in Ramat Gan, revealing a rare glimpse into the economic life of early Islamic-period Israel. The discovery, made through a routine salvage excavation in the parking lot of the city’s Winter Stadium, includes a network of straight, intersecting streets lined with shops, warehouses, large pottery kilns, and industrial installations capable of producing liquids on a significant scale. This find, attributed to the seventh and eighth centuries CE, highlights the advanced planning and organization of the site, suggesting possible governmental involvement. The excavation, led by archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), uncovered a range of structures and artifacts that shed light on daily life and industry during the early Islamic era. Straight streets intersecting at right angles suggest a deliberate layout, with rooms serving as shops or warehouses alongside plastered industrial facilities and kilns. Some installations appear to have been used for the production of unidentified liquids, indicating a diverse range of activities at the site. According to Yoav Arbel, one of the excavation directors, the site was so well-organized that the team could often anticipate where new walls would be located, based on logical patterns. Among the findings were dozens of pottery vessels, intact oil lamps, coins, fragments of glass vessels, and numerous bronze items including tableware and cosmetics. Iron tools such as pickaxe heads, a sickle, and numerous nails further illustrate the technological capabilities and cultural practices of the time. These artifacts enabled researchers to confidently date the site, although scientific methods such as radiocarbon dating are still pending. The industrial quarter appears to have thrived for approximately 150 years during the Umayyad and Abbasid periods before being abandoned in the latter part of the 9th century CE. The reasons for its abandonment remain unclear. However, about 30 to 40 years later, the area saw renewed activity during the 10th century under the Fatimid rule, taking on a more domestic character with the installation of residential buildings and tabun ovens atop the ruins of the previous industrial complex. This later settlement persisted until the late 11th century, just prior to the Crusader conquest, after which the site was left unoccupied and never resettled. The presence of similar industrial facilities in neighboring regions such as Syria and Lebanon suggests broader trends in urban development and economic activity during the early Islamic period. The discovery underscores the significance of Ramat Gan as a historical and archaeological site, offering valuable insights into the region’s past. It also highlights how modern infrastructure projects can lead to unexpected historical revelations, emphasizing the importance of careful archaeological investigation even in contemporary settings. As research continues, further details about the site’s function, ownership, and the reasons behind its eventual decline are expected to emerge.