Ancient 1,300-Year-Old Industrial and Commercial Complex Discovered Under Ramat Gan Stadium

Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority have uncovered a well-planned industrial and commercial complex dating back approximately 1,300 years beneath the Winter Stadium parking lot in Ramat Gan. The excavation, conducted in recent months ahead of a new bus terminal construction by Netivei Ayalon Company, revealed straight intersecting streets, rooms used as shops or warehouses, plastered industrial facilities, and kilns.

The site, believed to have been designed by engineers and overseen by regional authorities, was strategically located near a main road connecting Jaffa, Ramla, the district capital at the time, and Jerusalem, possibly on a secondary route. Fertile land and water sources nearby supported its function, which may have been a large trade and industrial station or part of an as-yet-undiscovered settlement.

Dating from the 7th or 8th century CE during the Umayyad and Abbasid periods, the complex operated for about 150 years before abandonment under unclear circumstances. It was resettled in the 10th century during the Fatimid era, with new residential buildings, production facilities, and numerous clay ovens. The site was deserted again by the late 11th century before the Crusader conquest and was never reoccupied.

Excavations yielded intact pottery, oil lamps, bronze cosmetic tools, iron implements, coins, and a large quantity of local and imported pottery and glass shards, illustrating the era's culture and economy. Although the region's population was ethnically and religiously diverse, including Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Samaritan communities, no definitive evidence was found to identify the site's inhabitants.

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu emphasized the discovery's significance, highlighting Israel's rich archaeological heritage and the potential for uncovering fascinating historical windows even in well-known urban areas like Ramat Gan.