The mammals include lions, leopards, bears, ibex, dogs, elephants, gazelle, oxen, wild boar, horse, and goat.

The mosaic was discovered in 1950 during a military exercise, and after five years was covered in sand to prevent deterioration.

Archaeologist Shmuel Yeivin was the first to publish about it, and described it as a church due to the apse located in the east of the building.

In 2004, the conservator Amir Genach, volunteers, the CDC and the Israel Antiquities Authority removed the 70 cm thick dirt layer covering the mosaic, restored and strengthened it, and prepared it for visitors.

The floor covered the atrium or central courtyard of the palace, which was led to by a portico on the west side.

The building had an additional storey which also had mosaic floors, parts of which collapsed when the palace was destroyed by fire, apparently during the Arab conquest in 640.