An international team of archaeologists have uncovered an early Christian church in Egypt, dating back over 1,600 years, along with a set of unexpected human remains.
According to Newsweek, the ruins were found at the site of Trimithis, an ancient city near the Dakhla Oasis in Egypt's Western Desert, once an important settlement during the Roman period from 30 B.C. until the Muslim conquest in A.D. 641.
The site is known for its well-preserved structures, including a temple, bath, and decorated villa.
David Ratzan, director of the Amheida Excavations for New York University's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, wrote in an article on the university's website, highlighting the significance of the mid-fourth-century church, describing it as "one of the oldest purpose-built churches to be excavated in Egypt."
He believes that the style of the church, modeled after Roman public buildings, symbolised the newfound confidence of Christians to build public worship spaces.
The excavation revealed that only parts of the original church survived due to erosion, with remains limited to the ground floor, crypts beneath the eastern section, foundations, and adjoining rooms.
Remarkably, a portion of the collapsed ceiling was found intact on the floor, providing insight into the decorative style of the era.
Among the most surprising finds were the remains of 17 individuals, including women and children, buried in the church.
This is unusual given the patriarchal nature of Roman society at the time.
Of those buried in the crypts, at least seven were female, and eight were children or adolescents, highlighting the role of women in early Christianity.
These crypts are significant as they represent the earliest known church structure in Egypt built with burials in mind.
The remains are still under study, which may reveal more about the identities and relationships of those buried.
Ratzan believes this discovery will play an important role in expanding the understanding of early Christianity and its architectural practices.