Archaeology news: Israeli experts decipher tombstone of ‘immaculate’ and ‘blessed Maria’

Nitzana was inhabited for about 1,300 years until it was abandoned in the 10th century BC.

In time, the city’s named was forgotten but the archaeological site can be found near Israel’s border with Egypt, in the southwest of the Negev desert.

Many of the towns in this part of the country were built around the first century BC and were later conquered by the Romans.

Then, from the fourth century AD and onwards, the Byzantine Christians dominated the area until the Islamic conquest of Syria in the seventh century AD.

Archaeological excavations in the area have so far produced a wealth of artefacts.

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1381643/archaeology-news-israel-tombstone-blessed-maria-byzantine-evg