By Azzaman
By Shayma Adel June 7, 2010
A team of Iraqi archaeologists has unearthed what is believed to be the oldest church in the country built in the 2nd century A.D.
The church is situated close to the holy city of Karbala which was a Christian center before the coming of Islam to Iraq in the seventh century.
The site is known as al-Qusair and the first excavations there were conducted in 2009, according to Abdulzahara Talaqani, the spokesman for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The ministry oversees Iraq’s Antiquities Department whose scientists are carrying out the digs.
The church, according to Talaqani, is the oldest in Iraq. He said it was part of a big monastery with several churches.
But the site Iraqi archaeologists want to expose represents a large church of which they have already revealed three halls as well as the altar.
The scientists’ aim, Talaqani said, is to unearth the church’s full design and display the remains to the public.
The Antiquities Department is currently conducting excavations at five ancient sites in southern Iraq.
Excavations had come to a halt shortly after the 2003-U.S. invasion. Many of the best known Mesopotamian sites have been the target of smugglers and illegal diggers.
Talaqani said hundreds of artifacts have been discovered and handed over to the Iraq Museum in the past two years.
A team of Iraqi archaeologists has unearthed what is believed to be the oldest church in the country built in the 2nd century A.D.
The church is situated close to the holy city of Karbala which was a Christian center before the coming of Islam to Iraq in the seventh century.
The site is known as al-Qusair and the first excavations there were conducted in 2009, according to Abdulzahara Talaqani, the spokesman for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The ministry oversees Iraq’s Antiquities Department whose scientists are carrying out the digs.
The church, according to Talaqani, is the oldest in Iraq. He said it was part of a big monastery with several churches.
But the site Iraqi archaeologists want to expose represents a large church of which they have already revealed three halls as well as the altar.
The scientists’ aim, Talaqani said, is to unearth the church’s full design and display the remains to the public.
The Antiquities Department is currently conducting excavations at five ancient sites in southern Iraq.
Excavations had come to a halt shortly after the 2003-U.S. invasion. Many of the best known Mesopotamian sites have been the target of smugglers and illegal diggers.
Talaqani said hundreds of artifacts have been discovered and handed over to the Iraq Museum in the past two years.