Turkish archaeologists have announced a rare find that has attracted the attention of the global scientific community. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
They identified a 1300-year-old bread with the image of Jesus Christ. This was reported by the ATI portal.
The find was discovered during excavations at the Topraktepe archaeological site, in the ancient city of Irenopolis. Experts identified five round breads dating back to the 7th–8th centuries AD.
The breads have been naturally preserved in a burnt and charred state. According to archaeologists, most of the breads bear the symbol of the Maltese cross.
The most interesting and unique find is the bread with the image of Jesus Christ, which also has an inscription in Greek that reads "With gratitude to Blessed Jesus." Experts consider this image to belong to the iconographic form called "Jesus the Farmer" or "Jesus the Sower."
This depiction shows Jesus Christ as a hardworking person sowing seeds on the ground. Researchers believe that since this area was previously an agricultural center, such a symbol represented fertility and blessing.
Scientists suggest that the breads might have been prepared for a religious ceremony or a communal celebration. However, for certain reasons, they were not used.
Perhaps the bakers baked them in large quantities or some were accidentally burnt. For this reason, the breads have been preserved for a long time.
Currently, archaeologists plan to send the discovered breads for paleobotanical analysis. This will determine the grain composition, type of flour, and production method.
Additionally, the carbonization process will be studied using computer tomography and microscopy. One of the research leaders emphasized that this discovery is important not only for Turkey but for the archaeology of the entire world.
It provides new information about religious and everyday life during the Middle Ages.
