Church Discovered By Archaeologists in Acre, Israel

JUNE 13, 2011--The Israel Antiquities Authority has had a breakthrough discovery, unearthing a public structure from the time of the Byzantine Empire in the northern Israeli city of Acre.

Old City of Acre UNESCO World Heritage Site

The structure is about 1,500 years-old and it is believed to have served as a church. The structure was uncovered during a rescue excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority following an unauthorized dig in the area that uncovered the structure.

The excavation was done approximately 100 meters west of a mound located in the eastern part of Acre, close to the area in which the future Azrieli shopping mall is being built.

"This is an important discovery for the study of Acre," Page said, adding that it is of particular significance "considering no remnants from the Byzantine Period had been found other than living quarters near the [Mediterranean] sea." Nurit Page, head of the excavations in the area.

Read More: Archaeologists unearth Acre church from the Byzantine Period

Archaeological Cities of Syria

Guest Article By Ron Siojo (Expert in Societies, Culture, and Religion)

The environs west and southwest of Aleppo in northern Syria are home to the "Dead Cities" — abandoned ruins of some 700 Byzantine towns, villages and monastic settlements. These ruins are among the greatest treasuries of Byzantine architecture to be found anywhere in the ancient world.

Today, very little of Antioch survives but the Dead Cities still litter the landscape with astonishingly well-preserved basilicas, monasteries, villas and baths. Indeed, the Dead Cities of Syria provide "one of the best pictures of the world of Late Antiquity to be found anywhere." Below is the list of the Dead Cities, all of which have notable ruins of Byzantine churches.

Read More about the Dead Cities of Syria 

Picture @ Sacred Destinations