Unearthing Italy’s Oldest Known Christian Church

Archaeologists in Italy have discovered the remnants of the oldest known Christian church in the region. This significant find was made near a former fish market in Oderzo, approximately 40 miles northeast of Venice. The Archaeological Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the Metropolitan Area of Venice announced the discovery in June.

Images released show the remains of the ancient church, featuring intricate polychrome mosaic floors and human burials near its foundation. Situated on the site of a former pescheria, or fish market, the church dates back to the Late Roman period, between the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. During that era, Oderzo was known as Opitergium.

Excavations began last November to prepare for a residential redevelopment in Oderzo’s historic center. The uncovered structure is believed to be the earliest Christian church in the area. Archaeologists have determined that this 1,600-year-old building was a large rectangular church. It measures about 75 feet wide and at least 98 feet long, with a central and two side aisles.

“The foundations, up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) thick and built from brick bonded with mortar, rest on wooden piles driven into the alluvial soil—a construction technique widely used in antiquity to improve stability,” the officials stated.

The excavation also uncovered four burials containing the remains of seven individuals. Anthropologists are studying these remains, and future analyses may offer more insights into the cemetery and those interred.

While the church’s eastern end remains unexcavated, indicating a potentially larger complex, evidence suggests the church was abandoned, stripped for building materials, and partially destroyed in the Middle Ages.

This discovery sheds light on Christianity’s rise during the Roman Empire’s dominance. The find marks a new chapter in ancient Opitergium’s history, highlighting a period when Christianity was becoming widespread.

Italy continues to reveal its rich history through recent archaeological discoveries. Earlier findings include a hidden chamber under Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli and the remains of an ancient sanctuary discovered during highway construction near Ponso.