Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 1,000-year-old wealthy estate with a fountain and a garden at an archaeological site in the city of Ramla, central Israel.

A two-room residential building and other constructions date to the Fatimid period (the end of 10th century – the first half of the 11th century CE), according to the scientists.

“A fountain, made of mosaic covered with plaster and stone slabs, was uncovered to the west of the building. A system of pipes consisting of terra cotta sections and connectors made of store jars led to the fountain. A large cistern and a system of pipes and channels that was used to convey water were discovered next to the residential building. A smithy’s forge built of bricks and used for manufacturing iron tools was exposed about 20 m south of the structure,” the archaeologists said in the statement from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

“It seems that a private building belonging to a wealthy family was located there and that the fountain was used for ornamentation,” added Dr Hagit Torgë, director of the excavations from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

“This is the first time that a fountain has been discovered outside the known, more affluent quarters of Old Ramla. Most of the fountains that we are aware of from this period in Ramla were concentrated around the White Mosque, which was the center of the Old City of Ramla. In addition, this is the first time that the fountain’s plumbing was discovered completely intact. The pipes of other fountains did not survive the earthquakes that struck the country in 1033 and 1068 CE.”

It seems the entire area was abandoned in the mid-11th century CE, probably in the wake of the earthquake.

“Ramla was established at the beginning of the 8th century CE. Its founding is ascribed to the ruler Suleiman Ibn ‘Abd al-Malik, and it was built as the district capital (Jund Filastin) and in certain periods its importance even eclipsed that of Jerusalem.”

“Ramla grew and expanded during the Abbasid and Fatimid periods, and it was an important economic center in Israel as a result of its strategic location on the road from Cairo to Damascus and from Yafo to Jerusalem.”