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Abstract

Recently, Rahat has undergone significant development in anticipation of the expansion of the city, including the establishment of new residential neighborhoods, industrial and commercial areas, and educational institutions. As a result, dozens of previously unknown archaeological sites were discovered, revealing the magnificent and fascinating past of this city. The many archaeological excavations conducted in and around Rahat, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), revealed sites dating from the Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic periods, including farmhouses, monasteries, churches, mosques, estates, an industrial area and cemeteries. The excavation at Rahat (South) unearthed special findings from the Early Islamic period, including a mansion with a subterranean vaulted complex and a bell-like space carved into bedrock. Also, two open-air mosques were uncovered, the oldest of their kind in the country. These testify to the importance of Rahat in the region in this period. The new discoveries in the vicinity of Rahat received wide media coverage, which generated a great deal of public interest. The IAA, together with the local municipality, collaborated to expose the local community to the new findings. Extensive educational activities were undertaken by IAA instructors, including lectures to school students, workshops and guided tours in the excavation areas, bringing teachers, religious leaders, students and the general public closer to the world of archaeology.

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