Amheida, New Valley Governorate, Egypt, November 14, 2024
Photo: nyu.edu
Archaeologists have made “surprising” discoveries at an ancient Egyptian church, uncovering 17 human remains that tell an unexpected story about early Christianity.
The excavation, led by NYU’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, revealed the ruins of a mid-fourth century church in Trimithis, an ancient city in the Dakhla Oasis dating to Egypt’s Roman period (30 B.C.–641 A.D.).
Project Director David Ratzan considers the church one of their most “exciting” discoveries, noting its Roman basilica design was innovative for its time. “Churches in this style...date back only to a generation or two before the church at Trimithis, since only then did Christians feel sufficiently confident to build proudly public spaces of worship,” Ratzan explained.
Hypothetical reconstruction of the interior of the early Christian church at Trimithis. Photo: nyu.edu
The most intriguing finding was the discovery of 17 bodies buried in crypts beneath the altar and service rooms. Seven of the remains were female, and eight were children or adolescents, including infants. “While there is good evidence that women were important in early Christianity, it was still surprising to find such a concentration of women and children buried in this church, since Roman Egypt was a patriarchal society,” Ratzan stated.
While the church excavation is complete, questions remain about the buried individuals’ relationships to the clergy or church patrons. The team continues studying the remains, though DNA testing isn’t currently possible. “For now, though, this is an exciting discovery and one that we expect will make a significant impact on the discussion of the history of early Christianity,” Ratzan concluded.
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