Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a previously unknown early Christian church in the ancient city of Artaxata, near the modern city of Artashat.

According to a statement from the University of Münster, the find consists of an octagonal building with cruciform extensions. Archaeologists from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the University of Münster have excavated parts of the church and studied it using geophysical methods. The Armenian-German research team has been exploring the Hellenistic metropolis of Artaxata in the Ararat Plain since 2018.

“The 4th-century building is the oldest archaeologically documented church in the country – sensational evidence for early Christianity in Armenia,”Professor Achim Lichtenberger of the University of Münster said. 

Typologically, the find corresponds to early Christian memorial buildings. “Octagonal churches were unknown here until now, but we are very familiar with them from the Eastern Mediterranean region, where they first appeared in the 4th century AD,” Dr Mkrtich H. Zardaryan of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia added.

In the cross-shaped extensions, the researchers discovered wooden platform remains, which were radiocarbon-dated to the mid-4th century AD. The octagonal building, approximately 30 metres in diameter, features a simple mortar floor and terracotta tiles. Marble fragments suggest the church was lavishly decorated, with the material imported from the Mediterranean.

The German-Armenian team has been working in Armenia since September and plans to continue their excavations to uncover more details, including the identity of the church’s dedication.

The excavation project on the settlement archaeology of the ancient city is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.