ePaper
Subscribe
Newsletters
Search
Profile
Visitor Figures
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Vermeer
Adventures with Van Gogh
Russia-Ukraine war
Subscribe
ePaper
Newsletters
Visitor Figures
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Vermeer
Adventures with Van Gogh
Russia-Ukraine war
Antiquities & Archaeology
archive

Unsubstantiated claim of discovery of world's oldest Christian church

Archaeology in aid of tourism?

The Art Newspaper
31 August 1998
Share

Claims made by Thomas Parker of the North Carolina State University that he and his archaeological team, excavating in the Jordanian port city of Aqaba, had discovered the world’s oldest Christian church were greeted by scepticism in the archaeological world. The mud-brick structure a few hundred yards from the Red Sea may have been built 1,700 years ago, however, Mr Parker admitted that after four years’ work there was no conclusive proof for his claim. It has been suggested that the competition between Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority to attract the largest number of pilgrims to the Holy Land for the Millennium had influenced Mr Parker’s interpretation.

Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as ‘Archaeology in aid of tourism?'

Antiquities & ArchaeologyJordanScamFake
Share
Subscribe to The Art Newspaper’s digital newsletter for your daily digest of essential news, views and analysis from the international art world delivered directly to your inbox.
Newsletter sign-up
Information
About
Contact
Cookie policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions
Advertise
Sister Papers
Sponsorship policy
Follow us
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
LinkedIn
© The Art Newspaper