Archaeologists in Israel unearth one of the earliest rural mosques in the world

Archaeologists in Bedouin town of Rahat in Israel’s Negev desert have unearthed, what they are calling, one of the earliest rural mosques in the world. Measuring 6 sq m, the mosque is believed to be built just a century or two after Islam came into practice as a religion. Archaeologists think that it was built to serve only one or two families living in the village.
Though it is difficult to state the exact date of the beginning of Islam, it is believed that the religion originated in Mecca and Medina back in the 7th century C.E. As per the Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists, the ruins discovered in Rahat dates back to the late 7th century or early 8th century. The archaeologists stumbled on the ruins during the groundwork of a new building.

Gideon Avni of the antiquities authority said, “This is one of the earliest mosques known from the beginning of the arrival of Islam in Israel, after the Arab conquest of 636 C.E.” The mosque was uncovered about 20 to 30 m from the ruins of a farm. Avni believes that the mosque used to serve the farmers in the region.
Avni said that, “The discovery of the village and the mosque in its vicinity are a significant contribution to the study of the history of the country during this turbulent period.” However, very little of the farm remains and one can only see ruins of tiny houses with rooms and courtyards here.

The origin date of the mosque is estimated with traditional archaeological methods, including looking at the pottery, reading the coins design and the style of oil lamps. Though there are not many remains of the mosque, archaeologists have noticed hallmark prayer niche facing southeast, towards Mecca on the walls of the structure.