砂漠から１２００年前の大邸宅跡 近くにモスク遺跡も　イスラエル

【ラハトＡＦＰ＝時事】イスラエル南部ネゲブ砂漠で２３日、１２００年前の大邸宅の遺跡が見つかった。同国の考古学者チームが発表した。周辺では６月に同時代のものとみられるモスクの遺跡が発見されたばかり。どちらも地域一帯の考古学的知見を広げる発見だ。（写真はイスラエル・ネゲブ砂漠のラハトで見つかった８～９世紀ごろの邸宅跡）
　イスラエル考古学庁（ＩＡＡ）が「地方の豪邸」と称する邸宅跡は、遊牧民ベドウィンの街ラハトで見つかった。ネゲブ砂漠南部でこうした邸宅跡が出土するのは初めて。中庭を囲むようにアーチ型天井の部屋が配され、廊下には大理石が敷かれていた。壁にはフレスコ画が飾られ、地下の部屋からはオイルランプや貯水槽が発見された。
　発掘調査を主導している考古学者は「豪華な大邸宅と見事な地下室は、所有者の財力を示す証拠だ」と説明する。
　考古学チームのノア・Ｄ・ミハエル氏は「居住者は地元の支配者だったと思われる」と説明し、このような邸宅は「ネゲブ砂漠では今日まで全く知られていなかった」と付け加えた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/08/29-11:54）

Israeli archaeologists unveiled a 1,200 year-old mansion on Tuesday, broadening knowledge of the southern desert region where a mosque was recently discovered.
Described as a luxurious rural estate by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the home boasted a marble-paved hallway and walls decorated with frescoes.
The first building of its kind to be found in the southern Negev desert, according to the IAA, it contained vaulted rooms around a central courtyard.
The remains of oil lamps were unearthed in storage rooms underground, along with a cistern.
The luxurious estate and the unique impressive underground vaults are evidence of the owners' means, said a statement from the archaeologists leading the excavations.
Their high status and wealth allowed them to build a luxurious mansion that served as a residence and for entertaining, added Oren Shmueli, Elena Kogan-Zehavi and Noe D. Michael.
We assume whoever lived here was some local ruler, Michael told AFP, adding that such estates had been totally unknown in the Negev until today.
The site in the Bedouin city of Rahat is due to be opened to the public on Thursday.
The estate is close to a rare mosque dating back to the same period, which Israeli archaeologists unveiled in June.
A few dozens Muslims likely worshipped at the site at one time, the IAA said.
The Muslim conquest of the region occurred in the first half of the seventh century.
After we finish the excavation (of the mansion), it is planned that this place will be preserved, alongside other discoveries like the mosque, Michael added.