Archaeologists unearthed a 1,500-year-old structure, believed to be a church, in the northern city of Acre, Israel.

It is the first time the Israel Antiquities Authority has found solid proof that the city of Acre played a role in early Christianity.

“This is an important discovery for the study of Acre,” said Nurit Page, head of the excavation, according to Israel’s Haaretz Daily Newspaper.

Page noted that this discovery is particularly important because “no remnants from the Byzantine Period had been found other than living quarters near the [Mediterranean] Sea.”

The ancient structure is believed to be a church because of its size, which indicates that it is a public building, and the style of the building, including the roofing tiles.

Excavation teams regularly find ancient church and tombs in Israel, which naturally lead to comparisons with Bible stories for historical accuracy.

Cpost