One of the Earliest Christian Buildings in Bahrain Discovered

Archaeologists have discovered evidence for one of the earliest Christian buildings in all the Arabian Gulf, producing physical evidence for a long-lost community. Uncommon with the Gulf today, the Christian Church of the East or the Nestorian Church, once thrived in the region until Islam was introduced after the religion was established in 610 AD.

Located in Samahij, Bahrain, radiocarbon dating of the building indicates that it was occupied between the mid-4th and the mid-8th centuries AD. The site was abandoned after the population converted to Islam. Its identity as a Christian site is shown by three plaster crosses found, two of which decorated the building and another which looks as if it had been carried or kept as a personal memento. Another indicator is a piece of graffiti scratched into the plaster of a Chi-Rho and a fish, early Christian symbols.

Conducted by both British and Bahraini archaeologists, excavations have revealed a large building with eight rooms which consisted of a kitchen, a dining room, a work room, and three living rooms. The original building survived only because a later mosque was built on top of it.

Very well constructed with stone walls and plastered insides, it is believed that the building served as the palace to the bishop of the diocese called Meshmahig or Mašmahig (a corruption of Samahij) in ancient sources. These same sources do highlight a contentious relationship between Meshmahig and the central church authorities, with a bishop at the site excommunicated in 410 AD and again, in the mid-7th century AD, another bishop condemned for challenging the unity of the Church.

Its occupants lived a good standard of life with access to pork, fish, shellfish, and various crops. Additional discoveries include carnelian semi-precious stones beads and broken sherds of pottery of Indian origin, indicating trade. Also found were small wine glasses and copper coins minted in the Sasanian Empire. Spindle whorls and copper needles found in the building suggests textiles being produced, likely used in worship.

The ruins of an early church of Aqaba, Jordan. (Public Domain)

The location was excavated between 2019 and 2023 as part of a joint project led by Professor Timothy Insoll of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter and Dr. Salman Almahari of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities.

According to Professor Tim Insoll:

“We were amused to find someone had also drawn part of a face on a pearl shell in bitumen, perhaps for a child who lived in the building.

This is the first physical evidence found of the Nestorian Church in Bahrain and gives a fascinating insight into how people lived, worked and worshiped.”

Currently, a museum is being developed at the site with a goal of preserving and presenting this amazing discovery, with plans to open in 2025.

Top image: The remains of the earliest Christian building in Bahrain. Source: Courtesy of the University of Exeter.

By Petros Koutoupis