A 1,400-year-old church was recently discovered by archaeologists from Ben-Gurion University at Nitzana National Park on the Israel-Egypt border, the university said on Monday.
Dated to the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods (fifth to seventh century CE), the church is the sixth to be discovered at the site, serving both residents of the ancient city of Nessana as well as pilgrims.
The church is located on the main road leading to Saint Catherine Monastery and Mount Sinai, and graffiti discovered there displays evidence of pilgrims arriving from as far as Georgia and Armenia.
A large hospice and bathhouse complex, complete with marble-clad tubs, was also found at site, and the “scale of the construction and the richness of the decorations point to an active and wealthy religious center," said Professor Yana Tchekhanovets of BGU’s Archaeology Department.
"Every excavation season reveals more of the hidden wealth beneath the ruins of Nessana, which was a vital stop on the ancient pilgrimage route."
Several preserved and colorful mosaics were also unearthed at the site, including those with intricate geometric designs, floral patterns, and medallions.
University aims to link physical remains to Nessana Papyri
According to the university, its mission at the site is to “connect Nessana's physical remains” with the famous Nessana Papyri, discovered in the mid to late 1930s. The papyri, written in several languages, heavily detail the daily ongoings of the time.
"We know from the papyri and other inscriptions found at the site that pilgrims arrived here from many places," Tchekhanovets said, adding that the team will continue to uncover the secrets of Nessana in order to learn more about the daily life of the ancient Negev.