Archaeological Discovery of Ancient Aksumite Church at Beta Samati, Ethiopia

Archaeologists working at the archaeological site of Beta Samati in Tigray, Ethiopia have discovered a complex of ancient commercial and domestic buildings, as well as one of the oldest Aksumite basilicas dating to the 4th century AD.

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Excavations at Beta Samati in 2016 (photo by I. Dumitru)

A gold and carnelian intaglio ring from the basilica that shows Roman influences (figure by I. Dumitru).]

A Christian stone pendant found in the basilica with a cross on the left and, on the right, the word “venerable” in Ge’ez – an ancient Ethiopian language, which remains the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (photo by I. Dumitru)]