Archaeologists find largest cemetery discovered in Gaza and rare lead sarcophogi

Gaza, a coastal enclave home to some 2.3 million people, has a rich history stemming from its location on ancient trade routes between Egypt and the Levant. 

An archaeologist removes sand from a skeleton in a grave at the Roman cemetery (AP/Adel Hana)

Palestinian workers in the Gaza Strip have found dozens of ancient graves, including two sarcophagi made of lead.

The finds were identified in a Roman-era cemetery – a site dating back some 2,000 years that archaeologists describe as the largest cemetery to be discovered in Gaza.