Earliest Known Christian Church Unearthed in Italy

Archaeologists in Italy have discovered the remains of what is believed to be the earliest Christian church in the ancient city of Oderzo. This significant find emerged near a former fish market, about 40 miles northeast of Venice. The Archaeological Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan Area of Venice and the Provinces of Belluno, Padua, and Treviso announced the discovery in June.

The excavated site in Oderzo reveals intricate polychrome mosaic floors and human burials beside the church’s foundation walls. The church, dating back to between the fourth and fifth centuries AD, mirrors a period when Christianity was growing in prominence during the Late Roman era. Oderzo was historically recognized as Opitergium.

Excavations on this site began in November and are part of a residential redevelopment project in Oderzo’s historic area. The church is substantial, measuring approximately 75 feet in width and at least 98 feet in length. It features a central aisle flanked by two side aisles.

The foundations, up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) thick and constructed using bricks bonded with mortar, rest on wooden piles driven into the soil as an ancient technique to ensure stability, stated officials.

Alongside the church, archaeologists have found four burials containing the remains of seven individuals. The eastern section of the church remains unexplored, indicating the complex might be more extensive than currently perceived.

Anthropologists are now examining the skeletal remains, aiming to gain insights about the cemetery and its buried individuals. While it is uncertain when the church ceased functioning, it seemingly was abandoned, stripped, and partially demolished in the Middle Ages.

This discovery holds great significance as it provides a new chapter in understanding the transition to Christianity in ancient Opitergium during the Late Roman and Early Medieval periods. Officials have emphasized the exceptional importance of this finding.

In recent times, Italy has been a hub of archaeological activity. Earlier discoveries include a concealed chamber beneath Hadrian’s Villa and the remnants of an ancient sanctuary near Ponso. These findings continue to highlight Italy’s rich Roman and early Christian history.