Scientists discover one of the oldest Christian churches in Egypt
On the territory of modern Egypt, archaeologists have conducted a study of a fourth-century church located on the outskirts of the ancient city of Trimitis. The most striking discovery was a significant number of burials inside the building, most of which belonged to women and children.
The excavations, which began in 2012 under the leadership of David Ratzan of New York University and Nicola Aravechia of Washington University in St. Louis, were temporarily suspended due to political instability and resumed only in 2023. The results of the research are published in the book "Early Christianity in Amheid (Egyptian oasis of Dakhla), a Church of the Fourth Century". The New York Times writes about it.
Trimitis, despite being located in one of the driest regions of the planet, was a prosperous city. Its inhabitants developed an active trade in dates and olives, establishing ties with settlements along the Nile. The city existed until the end of the sixth century.
The discovered basilica was distinguished by the Roman architectural style with a characteristic rectangular structure and colonnade, which indicates the rapid spread of Roman building traditions. Archaeologists discovered 17 burials inside the church: 11 bodies in two crypts and 6 in separate tombs. This number of burials in a church building is unusual for the period, when usually only the clergy were buried there.
The features of the burials reflect early Christian traditions: most of the bodies were wrapped in cloths, and only two were in coffins. Among the finds are bunches of rosemary, myrtle, palm leaves, and a bronze bowl near a child's grave. The preserved remains of one of the middle-aged women indicate a relatively high standard of living, despite the harsh environmental conditions.
Although, according to expert Laura Nasralla of Yale University, there is evidence of the high position of women in early Christianity, the findings in the church of Trimitis do not provide sufficient grounds to assert that the women buried there held religious positions.
As a reminder, archaeologists have found a square dating back to the era of Ancient Rome in Spain.
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