Archaeologists have recently uncovered evidence that Christians coexisted with a now little-known religion in modern-day Iraq.

Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, announced the discovery in December.

Excavation will begin in late summer 2025. The focus is on a complex located at the Gird-î Kazhaw site in Georgia. Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Built around 500 AD

Archaeologists discover bizarre Anglo-Saxon ‘sand body’ at nuclear power plant site

Archaeologists were unsure what purpose the complex served in ancient times until they discovered five square columns, “suggesting it may have been a church,” according to a university news release.

The press release also states: “Geophysical surveys revealed additional walls underground, so the ‘church’ was initially thought to be part of a larger monastery.”

Excavation sites related to early Christian worship are displayed alongside historical depictions of the prophet Zoroaster, the founder of Zoroastrianism. (Alexander Tam, Dirk Wick; Culture Club/Getty Images)

Archaeologists also discovered additional stone pillars “suggesting the possible presence of a three-nave structure,” as well as the remains of a church. Christian meeting place.

Pottery with a Maltese cross was also found there.

Archaeologists find artifacts older than Stonehenge under the Houses of Parliament: ‘extremely rare’

The researchers say the site’s proximity to nearby Sasanian fortifications is particularly important because it could indicate Christians and Zoroastrians Adjacent living in the area.

“Religious diversity is common.”

Zoroastrians were subjects of the Sasanian dynasty, a major Persian empire that ruled from approximately 224 AD to 651 AD

The state religion is Zoroastrianism, and the decline of the empire gave way to Islamization in the 7th century. Modern Iraq and Iran.

Researchers believe the complex dates to around 500 AD and may have been a Christian gathering place. (Alexander Tam, Dirk Wick)

There are approximately 100,000 Zoroastrians practicing the religion today.

Alexander Tamm, a professor at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, said the evidence for Zoroastrian presence at the site was “more circumstantial.” He co-led the excavation.

Chinese cowboys worked ranches in the American West for decades: Archaeologists find new clues

“There was also a small fort in use at the same time,” Tam said. “So far we have not found any artifacts there indicating the presence of Christian existence“.

He added, “If one thinks about this further and assumes that there might have been a small military force stationed there…it’s very possible that these people were Zoroastrians.”

“Zoroastrianism includes many gods, whereas Christianity certainly has only one God.”

Tam said it’s not news that the two religions are mixing in northern Iraq.

“Religious diversity is common,” the archaeologists noted.

Test yourself with our latest lifestyle quiz

“People should also not forget Muslims and Christians Later they also coexisted in this area – and still do today. “

For those unfamiliar with Zoroastrianism, Tam said it is distinctly different from Christianity.

Excavators found pottery marked with the Maltese cross, pictured on the right, which strengthens the evidence for the presence of early Christianity. (Alexander Tam, Dirk Wick)

“Zoroastrianism includes multiple gods, whereas Christianity certainly has one god,” he said.

Tam also noted “significant differences” in customs, particularly regarding burials. Zoroastrians buried their dead in rock niches or containers to prevent direct contact with the earth.

Click here to subscribe to our lifestyle newsletter

“For the Zoroastrians, Earth are considered pure, so the dead cannot simply be buried in the ground as that would contaminate the earth,” he said.

“Yet that’s exactly what Christians did: they buried their dead in the ground. This would certainly have been seen as a major insult to the Zoroastrians.”

“We really had little indication of what was going to happen… We thought we might find a small village.”

Despite this tension, Tam points to evidence that people “accommodate each other to some extent.”

“They may respect each other’s customs, even if those practices are in part contrary to their own religious teachings,” he said.

Click here for more lifestyle stories

Tam added is ‘pretty surprising’ The site itself was found to date back to the Sassanid period, especially given the scale of the structures found.

“We really have little indication of what will happen,” experts said. “We thought we might find a small village.”

“There’s still a lot to be excavated,” said one professor and co-leader of the excavation effort. (Alexander Tam, Dirk Wick)

Tam concluded that, history of christianity The situation in Iraq and Iran remains unknown.

“There’s still a lot to be discovered,” he said.

Click here to get the Fox News app

“Only new excavations can help reconstruct this information… The staff of the Sulaymaniyah Antiquities Authority and our excavation workers are both Islamic – but for them, as for us, Archeology and the pursuit of knowledge is a priority. “