The Christian settlement of Tarais, dating back to the Byzantine era, has been lost for centuries. Share this article Share this article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy link Link copied Bookmark this Comment
A stunning archaeological discovery in the Middle East has once again brought attention to one of the Holy Land's forgotten cities.
Experts believe they have found the ancient Christian settlement of Tarais from the Byzantine period, a place that was once marked on the Madaba mosaic map but disappeared for several centuries.
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Dr. Musallam R. Al-Rawahneh, an associate professor in the Department of Archaeology at Mu'ta University, published his findings in May.
In his study, he said the remains of the historic city were found by scientists during three years of fieldwork in Jordan that began in 2021.
The project is centered on the southeastern coast of the Dead Sea, near the village of El-Iraq, in the Ain el-Qalaa area, the Mirror US reports.
To guide their research, the scientists used a well-known map from the 6th century, which served to identify archaeological sites dating back to 330 AD.
This map is the oldest surviving geographical illustration of the Holy Land, showing over 150 historical sites.
The Byzantine Empire existed before the Roman Empire and ceased to exist around the 15th century.
Using a map, as well as satellite photographs and ground surveys, numerous discoveries were made at the site, including the remains of a mill, an olive press and a wine press.
Foundations of buildings were also discovered, including one “closely associated with a Byzantine church.”
Several stones were found here, which are believed to have marked the entrance. Archaeologists have found pottery shards, some of which date back to the Roman period.
Tombstones with inscriptions in Greek and Latin were also found.
Dr Al-Rawahneh noted that the text “contains many decorations and inscriptions that clearly indicate Christian symbols and contemporary practices.” He also suggested that this indicated the presence of “an established and flourishing Christian society” in Tarais at that time.
Tarais is believed to have been abandoned by the 7th century CE for a number of reasons, including earthquakes, changes in trade routes, and the transition from Byzantine to Islamic rule.
Such destruction was quite widespread and affected many similar settlements in the region.
“These architectural elements provide compelling evidence that Tarais was not just a settlement, but a religious and commercial centre during the Byzantine period,” the professor added.
He stressed that although the discovery was of great importance, further archaeological work was needed to gather additional information.
Dr Al-Rawahneh said: “Further archaeological research is needed to fully understand the unique functions, cultural traditions and historical context of Tarais during the Byzantine era.”
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