Ancient Roman edifice found in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A spacious edifice from the Roman period was uncovered by Israel's Antiquity Authority during excavations in Jerusalem's City of David, the authority said.

Details of the recent discovery were made public by the antiquities agency Monday.

Dr. Doron Ben-Ami, in charge of excavations at the site, said it appears the building was a mansion that belonged to a wealthy individual and covered an area of approximately 10,763.9 square feet (1,000 square meters).

"In the center was a large open courtyard surrounded by columns, and galleries were spread out between the rows of columns," he said. He estimated the 1,800-year-old building was two stories high and covered with a tiled roof.

Ben-Ami said excavators uncovered a large quantity of fresco fragments that had adorned the walls of some of the rooms in the ruins. The painted designs consisted of mainly geometric and floral motifs, he said.

A gold earring inlaid with precious stones and a marble figurine as well as coins were among artifacts discovered in the ruins.

Antiquities experts said they believe an earthquake in the fourth century caused some of the building's walls to collapse.

The City of David is an area south of the Temple Mount.