The Ashkelon basilica, a large public building that is believed to have been built during Herod’s rule in the 1st century BCE, was destroyed in an earthquake in 350 CE. Its approximately 50 marble columns, each weighing over seven tons, were later sawed up and used as building supplies. As Judith Sudilovsky reports, conservationists have painstakingly collected the remaining marble material from the original structure and put the pieces together “like a puzzle.” The project of excavation and restoration, which began over a century ago, is scheduled to conclude within the next year.
Excavations of the site were first carried out between 1920 and 1922 by the Palestine Exploration Fund based in London under the direction of John Garstang and, in addition to the pillars, also uncovered five large marble statues. After completing his excavation, Garstang decided to establish an open-air museum in the apse area to exhibit the main marbles and statues.
Over the years the museum fell into disrepair and by 2008, the walls of the open-air museum were collapsing, and the statues were in poor condition. The statues were removed for conservation.
During the years 2016 to 2021, the main hall of the basilica and its northern part were excavated by the Israeli Antiquities Authority, under the direction of Rachel Bar-Nathan with Saar Ganor and Federico Kobrin. “Now, one hundred years after they were excavated, (the columns and statues) are being returned to their place,” said the park manager Ronit Rozen.
More about: Ancient Israel, Archaeology, Herod