Archaeologists have unearthed a remarkable find just outside Frankfurt, Germany, providing what many are heralding as the oldest evidence of pure Christianity north of the Alps. An ancient silver amulet, measuring only 1.4 inches, has revealed its secrets which date back nearly 1,800 years, forever altering the timeline of early Christian history.
Discovered during excavations between 2017 and 2018, the amulet, known as the “Frankfurt Silver Inscription,” resides at the heart of scholarly attention, as researchers have digitally 'unrolled' it to decipher its contents. Authorities have reported this significant artifact was found beneath the chin of a man's skeleton buried at the Heilmannstraße cemetery just on the outskirts of the city.
The mayor of Frankfurt, Mike Josef, enthusiastically proclaimed, “The first Christian find north of the Alps has come from our city, and we can be proud of this discovery, especially now, so close to Christmas.” Such pride echoes the importance of this find, which is attributed to the period between AD 230 and 270, when the predominant faiths in Europe were paganism and Judaism.
The Frankfurt Silver Inscription consists of delicate Latin text, hosted on the thin sheet of silver foil inside the amulet. This inscription was revealed using advanced imaging techniques at the Leibniz Center for Archaeology (LEIZA) and comprises 18 lines stating, “Holy, holy, holy! ... May this means of salvation protect the man who surrenders himself to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God.” This text emphasizes the early Christian belief system, portraying Jesus Christ as the “Son of God” and invoking the authority of Saint Titus.
According to Ivan Calandra of LEIZA, the process to digitally unroll the tightly wrapped foil was fraught with challenges due to its ancient creases and pressing from centuries underground. He noted, “Using CT, we were able to scan it at very high resolution and create a 3D model,” shedding light on the artifact’s secrets.
Profoundly, this inscription, which avoided textual references to paganism and Judaism, has been hailed as “purely Christian,” marking the first authentic evidence of Christianity in this region before now, evidence previously thought to emerge only from the 4th century onward. Researchers now assert this man, whose grave also contained clay pottery and incense, is potentially the “first Christian north of the Alps.”
“The amulet's discovery suggests Christian ideas had already begun making significant impacts far from the early centers of Christianity,” stated Dr. Tine Rassalle, who, though not directly involved with the research, remarked on the significance of such practices existing in the Western Roman Empire.
Markus Scholz, the lead archaeologist from Goethe University, spent considerable time consulting various experts to unravel the inscription’s messages piece by piece. He admitted it was often a slow process, stating, “Sometimes it took weeks, even months, before I had the next idea.” His comments reflect the collaborative power of scholarly inquiry in deciphering ancient texts.
The goldmine of historical data within this silver artifact opens up discussions not only on archaeology but also religious studies and philology. Dr. Ina Hartwig, Frankfurt’s head of culture and science, expressed her excitement about the find, proclaiming, “This extraordinary discovery affects multiple areas of research and will keep science busy for years to come.”
The amulet, often classified as a phylactery – objects believed to provide protection or healing – sheds new light on the lives of early Christians. “Given the lack of advanced medical practices of the time, items like these would have been treasured for their comforting and protective qualities,” noted Rassalle.
Currently, the Frankfurt Silver Inscription is sparking renewed interest among archaeologists inundated with questions about early Christian communities across Europe. The veracity of its inscription indicates not just personal faith but also sociopolitical contexts surrounding early Christian practices and their interactions with surrounding religions.
It’s astonishing to think this single inscription, carefully unrolled and translated, can provide scholars with thorough insights yet raise new inquiries about the spread of Christianity. Researchers remain hopeful the site might yield more historical artifacts leading to greater discoveries about early Christians who lived during the turbulent eras of ancient history.
Indeed, as Christianity evolved from small communities to more expansive urban areas, artifacts such as this silver amulet become ever more significant. Its first formal reading of the engraving has already shifted foundations of historical narratives previously accepted by scholars.
What’s now clear is the tremendous significance this small ancient artifact holds—not just for Frankfurt, the place of its unearthing, but for the larger story of Christianity, history, culture, and identity within Europe.
