Ancient Church Found Beneath Fish Market

The earliest known Christian church in ancient Oderzo has been discovered by archaeologists, astonishingly found near the site of a former fish market. This significant structure dates back to between the fourth and fifth centuries AD, a period when Christianity was rising as the dominant religion in the Roman Empire.

The large rectangular church, measuring approximately 75 feet wide and at least 98 feet long, boasted a central aisle and two side aisles. Its foundations, robust and up to 1.2 meters thick, were built using wooden piles for stability, a common ancient construction technique.

Adding to the discovery, archaeologists uncovered four burials holding the remains of seven individuals near the church's foundation walls. Anthropologists are currently analyzing these remains to learn more about the cemetery and its interred inhabitants.

The eastern end of the church remains unexcavated, hinting at a potentially larger complex. Evidence suggests the church was eventually abandoned and stripped of materials before its destruction in the Middle Ages, marking a new historical understanding of Opitergium.