After nearly a century of archaeological silence, the ancient stones of Sebastia, once known as the city of Shomron (Samaria in English), are speaking again as Israeli excavators uncover remarkable evidence of the grandeur that defined the biblical capital of the Kingdom of Israel.

The excavation launched two weeks ago has already yielded extraordinary discoveries, including an elegant stone pavement that formed part of a ceremonial street leading from the city’s heart to its main gate.

Decorated columns that flanked this ancient thoroughfare now lie beside the pathway, a testament to the architectural sophistication of the Herodian period (roughly 37 BCE to 73 CE).