Archaeologists in Oderzo, Italy, have made a significant discovery, unearthing the earliest known Christian church in the ancient city, dating back to the 4th to 5th centuries A.D. during the Late Roman period. Revealed near the site of a former fish market, the extensive remains include intricate polychrome mosaic floors and human burials alongside thick foundation walls built on wooden piles for stability. Measuring at least 75 feet wide and 98 feet long with a central and two side aisles, the rectangular church’s eastern end remains unexcavated, suggesting it could be even larger. The discovery of seven individuals in four burials is currently under anthropological study, promising further insights into the cemetery and its inhabitants. This find is considered exceptionally significant, opening a new chapter in the history of ancient Opitergium during the Late Roman and Early Medieval periods, and adds to a series of recent remarkable archaeological discoveries across Italy.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
