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A contractor recently stumbled across an ancient Christian tomb complex while clearing rubble in Syria.
The discovery was made in the city of Maarat al-Numan in Syria’s Idlib province in May. (See the video at the top of this article.)
The complex dates back over 1,500 years.
The site was found beneath an abandoned house that had been destroyed years earlier.
Pictures show the Christian tomb complex with crosses, ancient graves and a variety of bones and fragments.
Hassan al-Ismail, director of antiquities in Idlib, said that the province is one of the most historic in Syria.
“Based on the presence of the cross and the pottery and glass pieces that were found, this tomb dates back to the Byzantine era,” he said.
He added, “We need to take care of the antiquities and restore them and return them to the way they were before … and this will help to bring back the tourism and the economy.”
In the 4th century AD, the Byzantine Empire emerged as a successor to the Roman Empire, establishing its capital in Constantinople.
Many finds from the era are still turning up across Europe and the Middle East.
A 1,600-year-old Byzantine-era mosaic from a Christian monastery was recently put on public display in Israel for the first time.
A mysterious 1,500-year-old bucket found at one of England’s most historic sites was recently found to be of Byzantine origin, having been manufactured in Antioch.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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