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Archaeologists recently found an extraordinary relic early Christianity: a 1,200-year-old loaf of burnt bread with the image of Jesus Christ.
The discovery was announced in a Facebook post on October 8 by the governor of Karaman, southern Turkey.
The bread dates back to the 7th or 8th century AD. It is one of five charred loaves recently found at the archaeological site of Topraktepe, once the ancient city of Eirenopolis.
ARCHEOLOGISTS DISCOVER RARE CHRISTIAN ARTIFACT ON A REMOTE ISLAND AMONG LUXURY RESORTS
Pictures from the excavation show the blackened bread with a swoon Image of Christ.
The inscription on the loaf reads: “With gratitude to the blessed Jesus.”
Archaeologists have discovered a charred loaf of bread in Turkey that appeared to have an image of Jesus Christ on it. On the left a picture of Christ Pantocrator from Hagia Sophia; The image on the bread on the right was made in a different style. (DeAgostini/Getty Images; Governor Karaman via Facebook)
The image did not include the popular Christ Pantocrator iconography, which typically shows Christ raising his right hand and serves as a standard for Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox art, according to officials.
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Instead, Christ was depicted as a sower or farmer, reflecting, according to officials, “the symbolic importance of fertility and work in the religious thought of the period.”
Archaeologists say the faint image on the bread depicts Christ as a sower and symbolizes faith and work. (Karaman Governor’s Office via Facebook)
Archaeologists also found other symbols on the breads, including one that appears to have the Maltese cross on it.
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“Specialists believe that these finds may be examples of ‘communion bread’ or Eucharist bread used in early Christian rituals,” said the Karaman governor’s Facebook post.
Excavations at the Topraktepe site, once the ancient city of Eirenopolis, uncovered five charred loaves of bread. (Karaman Governor’s Office via Facebook)
“The fact that the breads survived carbonation demonstrates exceptional preservation conditions,” officials added.
“The finds are among the best preserved specimens ever identified in Anatolia.”
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The breads are just some of the many fascinating early Christian finds in the Anatolia-Caucasus region last year.
The Topraktepe find adds to a growing list of early Christian discoveries in Anatolia and the Caucasus. (Karaman Governor’s Office via Facebook)
In 2024, officials announced that they had uncovered one of these oldest Christian churches in the world in Armenia.
The Artaxata Church dates back to the 4th century, the same time when Armenia officially adopted Christianity.
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Archaeologists recently discovered one in Olympus, an ancient Lycian port city in Turkey’s Antalya province Christian church from the 5th century with the inscription: “Only those who are on the right path are allowed to enter here.”
