Pčinja, Kumanovo, North Macedonia, December 5, 2022
Photo: kumanovonews.mk
A church dated to the 5th century has been discovered by archaeologists in North Macedonia.
Excavations led by a team from the Archaeological Department of the National Institute Museum Kumanovo uncovered the structure in the northern North Macedonia village of Pčinja last year, confirming that the fortress where the church is located was not a temporary military fortification, but a larger settlement that existed for a long time, reports Kumanovo News.
The brick floor of the church is located about 5 feet underground. The building seems be about 65 feet long and 30 feet wide. The altar of the church was discovered during last year’s excavations.
The layout of the fragmentarily preserved fresco decoration indicates that the level of the floor was raised in height at some point, and such construction activity also speaks to the church being used for a longer period of time.
The church is located at the very eastern end of the fortress, adjacent to the bastion of the fortification. The archaeologists believe the placement was no accident, but that the inhabitants hoped in God to protect them from any attacks.
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