Motza mosaicists: Putting an ancient Roman mosaic floor back together

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Author: SARA MANOBLA
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The route to Jerusalem from the coastal plain has for centuries been a major artery, with traffic increasing every year. In modern times, safety measures were introduced to prevent road accidents, and work on the project of Highway 1 began a few years ago. The final section of Highway 1, taking the traveler into the capital, starts with a steep climb at the Motza junction. In the nearby valley, there are springs and a confluence of two stream beds – Nahal Sorek and Nahal Arza. With its plentiful supply of fresh water, there has always been human habitation in Motza; remains of prehistoric settlements have been found dating back to 8,600 BCE

Rescue excavation of the ancient sites was needed. In 2012, the Tel Motza Temple was unearthed, and the excavation site took on a new significance. The remains of several buildings were found near the temple, as well as a cache of ritual objects that included ceramic figurines of humans and animals. From the temple site came a rare find of remains from the First Temple period; widening the highway would have destroyed the site. It was an issue of road safety versus antiquities conservation. The answer came with the construction of two bridges raised on massive pillars. At 700 meters, they are the longest bridges in the country, built to accommodate the two lanes of traffic. The pillars were carefully placed to protect the site and the streams below.

The excavations

The Tel Motza team of archaeologists have completed most of their field work, removing the antiquities and filling in and covering the excavated areas. Traffic now flows smoothly to Jerusalem along the bridge, high above the sharp bend in the road at the Motza junction. The Neolithic, Iron Age, and Bronze Age finds are being examined and studied; peace has returned to Motza. The inhabitants, many of whom had taken part in the digs, were hoping that some memento would remain in the village. However, the IAA declared that the artifacts are of national importance, to be held by and eventually displayed in the Israel Museum.

The solution to this dilemma came from the Roman artifacts found nearby. Some 50 meters up the hill, on the winding Seven Sisters Road, is the village of Motza Ilit (Upper Motza), founded by Jews in the early 20th century above Old Motza (Lower Motza). Originally a Roman town known as Colonia (after which the Arab village Qalunya was named), a garrison of 800 Roman soldiers was settled there by emperor Vespasian in 71 CE.

In the vicinity of...