Ancient Samaritan site reveals ‘multi-faceted’ history of the Holy Land

The site is located within the archaeological site Kh Kafr Hatta which historical sources describe as the birthplace of Menander, the gnostic and magician and the successor of Simon Magus. 

New archaeological findings shed new light on the lives of Samaritans and other biblical groups whose stories intersect with early Christianity. 

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) uncovered a Samaritan agricultural settlement in Kafr Qasim in central Israel, which existed for about 400 years from the end of the Roman period to the end of the Byzantine period. Among the findings are intricately decorated mosaic floors with vegetal images, which illustrate the wealth and success of the local Samaritan community. 

Other points of interest are the ancient gaming die discovered on the site, a “Good Luck!” inscription to the builder’s owner and an oil press close to a miqveh (a public purifying bath) which was most likely used to purify the olive oil. 

The site is located within the archaeological site Kh Kafr Hatta, which historical sources describe as the birthplace of Menander, the Samaritan gnostic and magician and the successor of Simon Magus. 

Simon Magus was an early convert to Christianity, baptised by Philip the Evangelist, before clashing with Peter over his attempt to purchase the power of the Apostles – the sin of simony. He has often been portrayed as the first heretic in Church history.

Less is written about Menander, though he is identified as Simon’s successor in the works of Irenaeus and Tertullian. St Epiphanius wrote that the Menandrians believed that angels created the world. 

The agricultural site provides details about the Samaritans’ experiences beyond the lifetimes of Simon Magus and Menander. The site’s decline in prosperity – indicated by more grand buildings being replaced by oil production and agricultural installations over time – is likely due to the Samaritan revolts under the Byzantine rule, according to Alla Nagorsky, the IAA executive director.

The Samaritan revolts were a response to the Byzantine emperors’ persecution of Samaritans and their efforts to Christianise the area. The revolts marked a significant demographic shift, which led to Christians becoming the dominant group in the province of Palestina Prima. The site is remarkable for retaining its Samaritan identity when similar sites were likely destroyed in the violence. 

Israel’s Minister of Heritage, Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, said that “these physical remains are another reminder that our heritage in this land is deep and multi-faceted”.

In a separate excavation earlier this summer, the IAA also announced the discovery of an ancient blade factory dating back 5,500 years, which it connected to the “Canaanite blade industry”, the first ever of its kind found.

The archaeologists discovered large flint cores used to create extremely sharp blades –advanced technology in the Early Bronze Age. The directors of the dig Dr Martin David Pasternak, Shira Lifshiz and Dr Nathan Ben-Ari said in a joint statement that the discovery “indicates a society with a complex social and economic structure already at the beginning of the Early Bronze Age”. 

The Old Testament identifies the Canaanites as the indigenous people of the land of Canaan, the “promised land” granted to Israel. Scripture describes them as idolaters and enemies of the Israelites.

Further research hopes to uncover blades in other locations, which can be traced back to this workshop and would reveal settlement and trade networks in ancient Canaan. 

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