Israeli archeologists find 1,500-year-old Byzantine bathhouse

Israel's Antiquities Authority says archeologists have discovered a Byzantine-era bathhouse in the south of the country dating back more than 1,500 years.

Archeologist Gregory Serai, who headed the excavation, said the impressive size of bathhouse, 20 meters by 20 meters, indicated that the area between Beersheba and Gaza was more heavily populated during the Byzantine era than previously thought.

Serai added in Wednesday's statement that the evidence found at the site shows "the villagers based their economy on wine production."

The statement said the bathhouse was destroyed in a cave-in and the site became a garbage dump.

The dig precedes work to lay a railroad track through the area.