Ramat Gan: 1,300-year-old industrial complex discovered

Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) have discovered a 1,300-year-old industrial and commercial complex in Ramat Gan. The site was uncovered during excavations at the Winter Stadium parking lot, a project necessitated by Netivei Ayalon’s plans to construct a large bus terminal.

The complex, dating back to the 7th or 8th century during the Umayyad or Abbasid periods, features a highly organized grid of straight streets intersecting at right angles. Along these roads, researchers found rooms used for shops or storage, plastered industrial installations, large pottery kilns, and facilities for liquid production.

Lead archaeologists Yoav Arbel and Lior Rauchberger noted that the site’s layout suggests it was meticulously planned by engineers and likely supported by local authorities. The location is believed to have been strategically positioned near a major route connecting Jaffa, Ramla, and Jerusalem. The complex appears to have been in use for approximately 150 years before being abandoned.