Mosaic tiles depicting birds and other animals began to emerge from the soil of an olive orchard in Palestine, as a farmer and his son worked the land. It turned out that farmer Salman al-Nahabin had discovered a Byzantine-era (330-1453) mosaic on the Gaza Strip farm, causing a stir in archaeology circles.
The mural floor features the iconographies of 17 birds and animals depicted in bright colors and is believed to date back to the fifth century. The mosaic is a remnant of Palestine's past as a busy trade route in the Middle East. "I see it as a treasure, dearer than a treasure… It isn't personal, it belongs to every Palestinian," al-Nabahin said.