- Title: JORDAN: Archaelogists discover possibly oldest church in the world
- Date: 11th June 2008
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABDUL QADER HUSSAN, HEAD OF THE REHAB CENTRE FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES, SAYING: "The excavation works started at this site eight years ago. In the year 2000, the church of Saint George the Victorious was uncovered, and it dates back to 230 A.D."
- Embargoed: 27th June 2008 01:38
- Keywords:
- Location: Jordan
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: History,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA8C4M3T48DUKQDB5MXGB90P9DE
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Archaeologists in Jordan say they have may have discovered the oldest church in the world located in a underground site in the town of Rehab, northeast of the capital Amman.
Experts say that their latest findings show that objects discovered in a chapel located in a cave beneath the church Saint George the Victorious date between 33 A.D and 70 A.D. The objects include pottery lanterns and a seal.
"Our new discovery last year uncovered a chapel inside a cave beneath the first church, and this chapel dates back to the first century AD -- somewhere between the years 33 AD and 70 AD -- according to the archaeological findings in the field," the head of the Rehab Centre for Archaeological Studies, Abdul Qader Hussan, told Reuters.
Hussan said the the church, which he believes was located in the cave underground, was established by Christians who fled persecution in Jerusalem and probably worshipped there in secret.
"According to all the previous studies we have consulted, this is the oldest (church uncovered) so far," Hussan said.
Hussan also added that some 30 churches had been found in Rehab in the past but that he believed this chapel was unique. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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