Sebastia Archaeological Museum
The museum is located in the old center of the village, within the remains of the Church of John the Baptist building. It consists of two rooms separated by an open iwan overlooking the church's nave, connected by stone steps. An inscription above the facade of the iwan indicates that a local ruler from the Al-Mashaqi family, based in the village of Yasid east of Sebastia, constructed this building at the end of the Ottoman period. Originally, the building served as a school for the villagers. In the mid-20th century, it was used as classrooms and later as a public library before being abandoned and neglected for many years.
The museum's aim is to introduce visitors to the historical sequence of different eras in Sebastia, highlighting the evolution of utensils and tools used in daily life, their development, and characteristics across various civilizations. Additionally, the museum strives to preserve these archaeological finds from loss, damage, theft, and smuggling, often encouraged by occupation authorities.
Opened in 2018 AD, the museum was equipped by the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in cooperation with the Municipality of Sebastia. The exhibits are organized in a chronological sequence, with display cabinets dedicated to each era of the city's history, from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and finally the Islamic periods. The collection includes tools, glassware, and pottery of various styles and uses, such as lighting lamps, storage jars, and cooking utensils, as well as coins representing different eras. The museum also features a collection of glass and metal ornaments, stone decorations, and other artifacts.
Each exhibit is accompanied by display cards in both Arabic and English, providing detailed explanations of each piece, including its use and date of manufacture.