Amazing beautiful ancient mosaic church floor found under courtyard of current church

The Christian mosaic is believed to be about 1,700-years-old.

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient decorated mosaic floor of an ancient church, underneath its modern incarnation, during an excavation. The Christian mosaic is believed to be about 1,700-years-old and part of the old Byzantine church of the fourth century. Using a ground-penetrating radar device, the team of scientists from U.S. and Israel speculated that something was really buried under the Nazareth's Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - "The mosaic floor is beautifully decorated with multiple stylized crosses and iconography," said project head Professor Richard Freund, from the University of Hartford, through a statement.

The modern church, whose courtyard was dug up for the project, was constructed in the 18th century atop of the old churches ruins in the area. Reserachers speculate that the ancient mosaic floor was a remnant of the old church, also considered sacred by Christians.

According to traditions, the site is where the Angel Gabriel gave Mary the announcement that she was going to bear pregnancy and give birth to the Son of God, thus annunciation. The church, on its celebration, was constructed over and over again. The mosaic was created about the same time that St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, was in the Holy Land and in direction of the creation of the churches.

"Based on the data we collected in December 2012 and January 2015 using the geophysical techniques ground-penetrating radar and electro-resistivity tomography, we determined that 'something' was buried beneath the courtyard behind the current incarnation of the church," said Dr. Philip Reeder of the Duquesne University in the report of the Times of Israel.

Researchers will make further announcements regarding the discovery after data from the excavation is completed and analyzed. The church plans to install glass panes for visitors to see the mosaic below the ground.

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