Archaeologists excavating at the site of the former church unearthed a marble shrine containing artefacts believed to be related to Moses receiving the Ten Commandments.
Inside the cathedral was a 1,500-year-old ivory box decorated with Christian motifs, according to a press release from the University of Innsbruck.
The item was discovered by archaeologists from the University of Innsbruck in southern Austria, beneath an altar in a chapel at the top of Burgbichl, a small hill in the town of Irschen.
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Since 2016, archaeologists from the University of Innsbruck have been conducting excavations in Irschen, which is part of the Drava Valley in Carinthia.
Since 2016, archaeologists from the University of Innsbruck have been conducting excavations in Irschen, which is part of the Drava Valley in Carinthia. (University of Innsbruck)
“There are around 40 known ivory cases of this type around the world but, as far as I know, the last one to be found in an excavation is around 100 years ago. The few surviving ivory cases are kept in cathedral treasuries or on display in museums,” lead archaeologist Gerald Glover said in a statement.
One motif shows a man with his head turned and his hands raised from above, holding something between his arms, followed by a depiction of a biblical figure.
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“This is a typical depiction of the beginning of the covenant between God and man in the Old Testament, when the law was handed over to Moses on Mount Sinai,” Glover said.
“We believe this depicts Christ’s ascension, the fulfillment of his covenant with God. The depiction of a scene from the Old Testament and its association with a scene from the New Testament is typical of Late Antiquity and therefore fits perfectly with our eucharistic vessels,” Graber said in a press release. (University of Innsbruck)
The final motif shows a man riding in a chariot pulled by two horses, with the same hands emerging from the clouds and lifting the figure into the heavens.
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“We speculate that this depicts the Ascension of Christ, i.e. the fulfillment of his covenant with God. The depiction of scenes from the Old Testament and its association with scenes from the New Testament is typical of Late Antiquity and therefore matches our sacramental vessels. However, the depiction of Christ’s Ascension in a so-called biga (chariot) is very special and previously unknown,” Graber said in a press release.
The marble temple was discovered by archaeologists from the University of Innsbruck in Austria, and contained piles of broken ivory Ark fragments. (University of Innsbruck)
Researchers found two Christian churches, a water tank, and personal belongings of the settlement’s former inhabitants.
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In the final, more unstable periods of the Roman Empire, colonists abandoned the valleys and settled on hilltops that were easier to defend, Grabacher said in a statement.
Researchers are investigating further into the origins of the discovery. (University of Innsbruck)
Researchers are conducting further investigations into the origins of the ivory, metal and wooden components found inside the marble box.
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“The archaeological and art historical importance of this coffin is undeniable,” Graber said.
