1,500-Year-Old Christian Amulet Unearthed in Turkey May Contain Biblical Text

Audio By Carbonatix

A shocking and surprising ancient artifact with suspected biblical connections was recently unearthed by a team of archeologists.  The archaeologists, while working in Turkey, have discovered a 1,500-year-old amulet at the Türkmen Karahöyük archaeological site in Konya. 

According to archeologists, the Christian amulet is still under investigation, but is suspected of containing biblical text dating back to A.D. times.

When an international team, including 60 researchers from 13 countries, began their excavation, they likely never thought they would find such an ancient, historical artifact. But based on the findings, the artifact dates all the way back to the fourth or fifth centuries A.D., which was, of course, a pivotal time in Christian chronology. At that time, Christianity was growing and expanding throughout the Roman Empire.

Fox News has reported that inside the copper case, a thin gold sheet containing a likely Biblical text has made the discovery even more exciting. As researchers continue to identify, clean and investigate the artifact, they have noted that it’s small, dark and heavily corroded.  

Excavation co-director Michele Rüzgar Massa explained that relics like the one he and his team came across aren’t very common.

"As far as we know, one similar example was found in Germany," said Massa, who added that the amulet likely belonged to a small child. "In other words, you can think of it like an evil-eye charm," laughed Massa.

In addition to the amulet, the team found older artifacts, including a stone seal with a hieroglyphic Luwian inscription, two copper seals and a clay seal impression. The Christian Post explains that the Luwians “were an ancient people who lived in parts of Anatolia during the Bronze and Iron Ages.”

As research continues and the biblical text remains unknown, this discovery sheds light on how Scripture may have been carried centuries before Bibles ever existed.

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Aaron Burden

Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.