Historic find: First-ever ancient Christian structure discovered in Bahrain

The surviving structure of the Christian building. Later, a mosque was built on top of the structure.University of Exeter

Unique location and notable artifacts

The location of the building is unique because it is in a modern and densely populated town, unlike other isolated Christian structures along the Gulf coast. There are speculations that it may have been the residence of the bishop.

The artifacts suggest inhabitants consumed a variety of food and were involved in trade since broken Indian pottery, drinking glasses and copper coins were unearthed in the area. The structure even includes a kitchen with built-in ovens and storage areas.

The findings also include a clear Eastern cross on a plaster slab, three plaster crosses, fish symbol wall carvings and part of the ''Chi Rho'' symbol (one of the earliest forms of the Christogram).

Ongoing project since 2019

The excavation project started five years ago in 2019 as a collaborative effort of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and a British team led by Professor Timothy Insoll and Dr. Salman Al Pahari.

Christianity is not new in the region, as the Church of the East (Nestorian Church) flourished in the region until the 7th century CE. This discovery provides more insights into the Nestorian Church and the lives of its followers in Bahrain.