List of archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip

There are more than 300 archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip. The Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa database contains information on 166 of these sites. The sites span the Chalcolithic (Taur Ikhbeineh) to the contemporary period (Al-Ahli Arab Hospital).

Archaeological sites in Palestine have been administered by various organisations. The Department of Antiquities during the British Mandate in Palestine from 1920 to 1948; from 1948 to 1994 the administration of sites in the Gaza Strip was separate to those in the West Bank and were controlled first by Egypt and then by Israel from 1967. In 1994, the Palestinian Department of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage was established, with a branch in the Gaza Strip.

During the British Mandate, there was significant archaeological work in Palestine but it was comparatively limited in Gaza. British-led small-scale excavations took place at Tell Harubah (the predecessor to Gaza City) in the 1920s, and in the 1930s Flinders Petrie led excavations at Tell el-Ajjul. While under Egyptian rule there were no major excavations in the Gaza Strip. During the Israeli occupation archaeologists from the university in Beersheba conducted fieldwork at Deir al-Balah and Tell Ruqeish.

Archaeologists Jean-Baptiste Humbert and Moain Sadeq suggest the impact of war, different administrations with different archaeological interests and priorities, and a lack of Biblical archaeology have contributed to a relative lack of interest in the region's sites from archaeologists. Writing in 2010, archaeologist Hamdan Taha said that while Palestinians had previously viewed archaeology as a tool of occupation, views were changing and "The new transformation of the role of archaeology and cultural heritage is evoking a chain of positive reactions in the Palestinian society".

List +Site nameAdditional namesImageCoordinatesTypeCultural periodDescriptionReferencesAbu ShehabIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Al Ahli Hospitalal-Ahli Arab HospitalGovernment/Administrative BuildingContemporary Islamic (MENA)al Ghussein MosqueIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Al Mathaf Archaeological MuseumUnknownUnknownal QissariyaGold MarketMore imagesMarketIslamic (Levant/Arabia)A covered market next to the Great Omari Mosque in the Old City of Gaza. It consists of two rows of shops flanking a street. The current structure was likely built in the 15th century during the Mamluk period.Al-Basha Palace, Dar Al-Sa'adahQasr al-BashaMore imagesIslamic (Levant/Arabia)The palace's first storey dates to the 13th century, and its second storey to the Ottoman period. Its Mamluk decoration includes reliefs of lions, the symbol of Sultan Baybars.Al-Qazmari MosqueZofor Domri Mosque, Al-Thafar Damri MosqueMosqueContemporary IslamicThe mosque was built in Mamluk style in about 1360, dated by an inscription above the entrance. It was expanded in 1498.Al-Zaiton CemeteryCemeteryIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Ali Mirwan MosqueIbn Marwan MosqueMore imagesMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)While it is uncertain when the mosque was built it existed by the 14th century. It was named after Sheikh Ali ibn Marwan whose grave is near the mosque.Ard-al-Moharbeen necropolisCemeteryClassical/Pre-IslamicRoman cemetery used from the 1st and 3rd centuries. 135 graves have been discovered in an area of including two lead sarcophagi – the first of their kind found in Gaza.AnthedonPort/HarbourAybaki MosqueMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Bab al-Ascalon (east)Gateway/Arch/IntersectionIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Bab al-Ascalon (west)Gateway/Arch/IntersectionIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Bab al-BahrGateway/Arch/IntersectionIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Bab al-BlakhiyahGateway/Arch/IntersectionIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Bab al-DarumGateway/Arch/IntersectionIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Bab al-KhalilGateway/Arch/IntersectionIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Bab al-MinasGateway/Arch/IntersectionIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Bab al-MuntarGateway/Arch/IntersectionIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Bab al-SharifGateway/Arch/IntersectionIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Beit Hanun old townIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Beit Lahiya old townIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Blakhiya Byzantine cemeteryInhumation cemeteryByzantineDeir el-Balah Bronze Age cemeteryMore imagesBronze AgeA cemetery covering associated with the contemporary settlement at Deir el-Balah. The cemetery was established in the 14th century BCE and likely used into the 12th century BCE. Amongst fifty burials, dozens of antropoid sarcophagi were discovered and many illicitly removed.: "Prior to [excavations in 1972], some 40 anthropoid coffins had been illicitly recovered from the cemetery, some of which were acquired by the late Moshe Dayan for his private collection".Deir el-Balah Old TownIslamic (Levant/Arabia)El Ghazali MosqueIslamic (Levant/Arabia)El Hawashi MosqueMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)El Mahkanin Mosque, Jami el MahkamehIslamic (Levant/Arabia)el-HarbishUnknownel-Maghazi, Kh. InseiratWatchtower/Observation PostUnknownel-MuntarUnknownen-NusairatUnknowner-RusumProduction/Processing (Pottery)UnknownEs Sidre MosqueMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Esh Sheik Othman MosqueMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-ShattWatchtower/Observation PostUnknownesh-Sheikh 'AbeidIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh 'AjlinIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh 'AliyaIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh 'UmriIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh AhmadMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh DuweirIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh en-NagiyahMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh HasanIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh Mohammad el-YamaniIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh NabhanIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh Sa'd el-EnsarBuildingUnknownesh-Sheikh SaraIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh ShubaniIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh Sulaiman RafahIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikh Umm en-NasrBuildingUnknownesh-Sheikh YusufIslamic (Levant/Arabia)esh-Sheikha AminaIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Gaza City WallsRamparts/Fortification/ Defensive EarthworkGaza Old CityGreat al-Umar Mosque, Temple of MarnaMore imagesHakurat 'Abd el-HamidUnknownHammam el-UshabirHamman al SamaraMore imagesBath-houseIslamic (Levant/Arabia)The hammam was likely built during the Mamluk period and was one of six public baths in Gaza.Ibn Othman MosqueMore imagesMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Jabaliya Byzantine ChurchChurch/ChapelClassical/Pre-Islamic (Levant)Basilica church used from the 5th century to the 8th when it was targeted by iconoclasts. The main survivals were the mosaic floors.Jabaliya old townIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Jami esh Sham'ahMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Jami Katig el WilayaIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Jemia WellWellUnknownKhan Abu KhadraMarket/Commercial UnitIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Khan el Ma'arifMarket/Commercial UnitIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Khan es ZeitMarket/Commercial UnitIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Khan YunusIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Khirbet Abu QashtaUnknownKhirbet AslanUnknownKhirbet el-'AdasUnknownKhirbet el-BardUnknownKhirbet el-BureijUnknownKhirbet el-Esra'UnknownKhirbet en-NuseiraUnknownKhirbet er-Rasm, el-KhirbehUnknownKhirbet es-SawaqiUnknownKhirbet es-SiraUnknownKhirbet esh-ShalloufUnknownKhirbet Ikhza'aKhirbet RafahClassical/Pre-Islamic (Levant)Khirbet Souq MazenUnknownKhirbet ZeitaTellUnknownLatin ConventMonastic ComplexMaioumasIncludes the 6th-century Gaza synagogueMaqam el-KhaderIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Maqam el-KhaliliIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Qa' el-KhirbehUnknownQalaat BarquqKhan YounisMore imagesFort/Fortress/CastleIslamic (Levant/Arabia)A caravanserai (also called a khan) along the route of the Via Maris that gave shelter to travellers and traders. An example of Mamluk architecture, was named after its builder and contained a mosque.Qasr al-SaqqaHouseIslamic (Levant/Arabia)RafahIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Rafia, Tell Zu'roubClassical/Pre-Islamic (Levant)Reyad al-AlamiHouseIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Sabil Al-RifaiyaIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Saiyid el Bawdawi mosqueMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Saqiyat el QasrIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Sayed al-Hashim MosqueMore imagesMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Sayeda Ruqayya MosqueMosque/Imam/MaraboutClassical/Pre-IslamicSheik Bashir MosqueMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Sheik Kalid MosqueMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Sheik Shaban MosqueIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Sheik Zakari MosqueMosque/Imam/MaraboutIslamic (Levant/Arabia)St Porphyrius Orthodox ChurchMore imagesChurch/ChapelClassical/Pre-Islamic (Levant)Tareq bin Zayed MosqueTomb/Grave/BurialIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Taur IkhbeinehTellChalcolithic (Levant)A settlement inhabited in the 34th century BCE, providing evidence of interactions between Egyptians and Canaanites.Tell er-RuqeishTell 'AklukMore imagesIron AgeA Phoenician settlement and necropolis established in the 8th centuries BC as a fortified city. The settlement later came under Persian control and the city walls fell out of use.Tell Abu el-HawaTellUnknownTell Ali MuntarThe settlement is thought to have been inhabited in the Bronze Age, and is traditionally linked to the Philistines. The site has not been excavated.Tell el-AjjulMore imagesThe remains of a Canaanite city inhabited in the Bronze Age. Likely replaced Tell es-Sakan.Tell el-BurkiTellUnknownTell el-FajamTellUnknownTell el-FukhariTellUnknownTell el-HarrashUnknownTell el-JenanTellUnknownTell el-KhirbehTellUnknownTell el-MasabihUnknownTell el-MukheimalUnknownTell el-QatifaBronze AgeTell es-SakanMore imagesTellBronze AgeThe remains of two settlements: an Egyptian city (inhabited ) succeeded by a Canaanite settlement (inhabited ).Tell es-SanamTellIron AgeA settlement and probable port suggested to have been the successor to Tell el-Ajjul. Late Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery has been recovered from the site.Tell esh-Sheikh RadwanUnknownTell et TinehTellBronze AgeTell et-TinTellBronze AgeTell eth-ThahabTellUnknownTell HaboulaUnknownTell Nejid, Tell es-SanamTellUnknownTell RafahTellTell RidanTall RīdānUnknownTell Tin FanisTellUnknownTell Umm 'Amer, The Monastery of Saint HilarionUmm et-TutMore imagesA site contains the remains of the 4th-century Saint Hilarion Monastery and the settlement of Tabatha. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Tulul el-HumrTellUnknownTurbat esh Sheik HyasTomb/Grave/BurialIslamic (Levant/Arabia)Umm el-HajarUnknownUmm et TellTellUnknownWadi GazaMore imagesNeolithic (Levant)ZeitaUnknown

See also Destruction of cultural heritage during the Gaza war List of archaeological sites in Israel and Palestine List of museums in Palestine Palestinian archaeology Saved Treasures of Gaza: 5000 Years of History

References

Bibliography

List of archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip

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