A newly discovered ancient structure sheds light on the historic roots of Christian communities within the Gulf region.
In a groundbreaking find, archaeologists in Bahrain have uncovered one in every of the oldest Christian buildings within the Gulf, dating back to the fourth century. This significant discovery provides the primary physical evidence of an ancient Christian community within the island nation.
The Church of the East, also known as the Nestorian Church, thrived within the region for several centuries until the seventh century, when the spread of Islam began.
Teams from Bahrain and the United Kingdom unearthed an eight-room constructing believed to have served because the residence of the bishop of the diocese in Samaheej, a village on Muharraq Island’s northern coast. This joint project, initiated by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities under Dr Salman Al Mahari and led by Professor Timothy Insoll from the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at Exeter University, began in 2019 and led to careful excavations repeatedly through 2023.
Their work reveals the early Christian settlements in Bahrain, dating back many centuries before the spread of Islam. Radiocarbon dating confirms that the Samahij site was occupied from the mid-fourth to mid-eighth centuries CE, likely abandoned as Islam spread further among the many local population.
The excavation began at a mound inside the Samahij cemetery, where archaeologists found remnants of a 300-year-old mosque hidden beneath the bottom. Digging deeper still, they uncovered a big constructing with eight rooms, including a kitchen, dining room, workshop, and three living quarters.
A press release from a Bahraini government media team explained, “The findings suggest the constructing could have been the residence of the bishop of the diocese, which included Samahij.”
The statement added, “Records also indicate a connection between the region and central church authorities, with one bishop dismissed in 410 CE and one other condemned for difficult church unity within the mid-seventh century.”
This discovery is exclusive as a result of its location in a contemporary, densely populated town, unlike previous Christian structures present in distant areas along the Gulf coast.
Important finds in the course of the excavation included three plaster crosses, two on the constructing’s exterior and one possibly kept as a private memento, together with wall carvings featuring a fish symbol and a part of the ‘Chi Rho’ etching, representing the word of Christ.
Dr Al Mahari mentioned that the excavation is nearing completion and emphasised the positioning’s importance for Bahraini history, offering invaluable insights into the Christian presence within the region.
Details in regards to the constructing and its inhabitants’ lives were also uncovered. Built with stone partitions coated in plaster and plaster floors, the structure had sockets and holes indicating door and seat placements. The kitchen had built-in ovens with bases and storage areas. Artifacts suggest the residents enjoyed a very good lifestyle, consuming meat, fish, shellfish, and various crops.
The discovery of semi-precious agate beads and broken Indian pottery indicates trade, particularly with India. Small drinking glasses and twelve copper coins suggest the usage of Sassanian Empire currency. Additionally, spindle whorls and copper needles hint at possible cloth production for religious purposes.
“We stress the importance of this site and the necessity to preserve it, highlighting its historical and archaeological value,” said Professor Insoll.
“We were amused to search out someone had drawn a part of a face on a pearl shell using bitumen, possibly for a baby who lived within the constructing,” enthused the professor. “This is the primary physical evidence of the Nestorian Church in Bahrain, providing an enchanting insight into how people lived, worked, and worshipped.”
This find not only enriches our understanding of the region’s diverse religious history but additionally highlights the wealthy culture that existed in Bahrain long before the appearance of Islam.
