A luxurious Samaritan estate dating back about 1,600 years has been uncovered in Kafr Qasim, Israel during an Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) excavation ahead of new neighborhood construction.
The dig, conducted in the archaeological site of Khirbat Kafr Hatta in northern Kafr Qasim, revealed remains of a wealthy Samaritan settlement that thrived for about 300 years, from the late Roman period to the end of the Byzantine era. Historical sources identify the site as the birthplace of Menander the Magician, a Samaritan disciple of Simon Magus, considered a founder of Gnostic sects and one of early Christianity’s fiercest opponents.
According to excavation directors Ella Nagorsky and Dr. Daniel Leahy Griswold of the IAA, “The size and magnificence of the buildings, the architectural elements, the quality of the mosaics, and the impressive agricultural installations point to the prosperity of the Samaritan community here over many years.”
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Among the discoveries was a richly decorated mosaic floor preserved in one building. The design features dense geometric patterns and plant motifs. In the central medallion, acanthus leaves are combined with rare depictions of fruits and vegetables, including grapes, dates, watermelon, artichoke, and even asparagus. At the room’s entrance, a partially preserved Greek inscription offers a congratulatory blessing - “Good Fortunes” - to the building’s owner, whose name was typical of the Samaritan community.
In the northern section of the estate, archaeologists uncovered an olive oil production complex, spacious storage rooms, and a public-style ritual bath (mikveh), where workers immersed before pressing olives to ensure the production of ritually pure oil. The oil press was carefully designed, with a northern production wing containing two screw presses and a large round crushing stone, and a southern wing with auxiliary rooms. “Oil presses of this type are more typical of Jerusalem and the Judean lowlands, and are less common in Samaria,” noted Nagorsky.
Over time, the estate underwent dramatic changes. “Wealth and luxury gave way to agriculture and oil production,” Nagorsky explained. Mosaic floors were damaged when new walls were built, while ornate columns and capitals were reused in later constructions. She suggests these shifts may be tied to the Samaritan revolts against Byzantine rule in the 5th and 6th centuries CE, when restrictive laws targeted non-Christian communities.
“Interestingly, unlike some Samaritan sites destroyed in those revolts, the estate at Kafr Qasim continued to exist and even preserved its Samaritan identity, as indicated by the distinctive Samaritan oil lamps found here,” she added.
“This is a fascinating site that presents both the prosperity and decline of the Samaritan community,” Nagorsky said. “Its long lifespan and abundance of finds will allow us to reconstruct its history across centuries and enrich our understanding of this ancient population.”