Strata

Luxury Living in the Jordan Valley

IAA Excavations Uncover Impressive Byzantine Villa

A newly excavated Byzantine period villa in Beth-Shean attests to the timeless allure of the scenic Jordan Valley. Uncovered during a rescue dig ordered prior to the construction of a youth hostel, the luxurious villa once included stunning mosaics, numerous storerooms, a family graveyard and a second-floor balcony overlooking the Jordan Valley.

“This was the house of a wealthy family who went outside the walls of the city and possibly had agricultural land around the house,” said Ofer Sion, who directs excavations at Beth-Shean on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “It is clear to us that there were no other buildings on the eastern side of the villa, so the balcony was open to the view.”