The floor, boasting 17 iconographies of beasts and birds, is well-preserved and its colors are bright. The mosaic was uncovered just a half mile from the Israeli border. “These are the most beautiful mosaic floors discovered in Gaza, both in terms of the quality of the graphic representation and the complexity of the geometry,” said René Elter, an archaeologist from the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem. The discovery has set off excitement among archaeologists, and the territory's Hamas rulers are planning a major announcement in the coming days. But it is also drawing calls for better protection of Gaza’s antiquities, a fragile collection of sites threatened by a lack of awareness and resources as well as the constant risk of conflict between Israel and local Palestinian militants. Visit the link in bio for more details on the uncovered mosaic. 📸: AP