An Israeli Archeologist Shows An Imported Marble Column Base Found In An 1,5000 Year Old Monastery

A close up of Maltese cross found on an imported marble column base discovered in an 1,5000 year old Byzantine Period monastery and church uncovered during large scale excavations in Beit Shemesh, Israel, December 20, 2017, by the Israel Antiquities Authority. The Byzantine structure was discovered during excavations prior to the expansion of Ramat Beit Shemesh for housing. The marble base is engraved with a Maltese cross. Artifacts were found and a number of architectural elements including a marble pillar base decorated with crosses and marble window screens. The artifacts found may indicate that the site was important to ancient pilgrims in the Judean Shephelah region. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI