Ancient Planned City Unearthed Beneath Ramat Gan Parking Lot After 1,300 Years

Archaeologists uncovered a remarkably well-planned commercial and industrial city dating back 1,300 years beneath the asphalt of a parking lot near Winter Stadium in Ramat Gan. The discovery was made during excavations led by Dr. Yoav Arbel and Lior Rauchberger ahead of constructing a large bus terminal by Netivei Ayalon. The site, established in the 7th or 8th century during the Umayyad and Abbasid periods, operated for about 150 years and featured straight, intersecting streets, shops, warehouses, plastered industrial facilities, and kilns.

The city’s location was strategic, adjacent to a main road connecting Jaffa, Ramla, and Jerusalem, making it a vital commercial hub. Uniquely, the city was not developed organically but was meticulously designed by ancient engineers before construction began. Although abandoned under unclear circumstances, the site was resettled around 1,000 years ago with new homes, production facilities, and ovens, until its final abandonment in the late 11th century before the Crusader conquest.

Excavations revealed dozens of intact pottery vessels, oil lamps, bronze tableware, iron tools, numerous coins, and a large quantity of local and imported glass and pottery shards. These finds indicate the city’s economic strength and extensive trade connections, while cosmetic and tableware items suggest a high standard of living. This discovery adds to recent significant archaeological finds in Israel, offering rare insights into daily life and commerce during the early Islamic era. Excavations are ongoing as researchers aim to uncover more details about this ancient planned city beneath the modern urban landscape.