Ancient Christians lived alongside followers of a now-obscure religion roughly 1,500 years ago, according to archaeologists working in northern Iraq. Researchers say new discoveries show early Christian communities coexisted with Zoroastrians during the height of the Sasanian Empire, offering rare insight into faith, culture, and survival in a volatile region. The findings were announced by Goethe University Frankfurt and made public in December.
Excavations began in late summer 2025 at the Gird-î Kazhaw site in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, where archaeologists uncovered a large building complex dating to around 500 A.D. Five square stone pillars led researchers to believe “that it might be a church.” Additional stone pillars “point to the existence of perhaps a three-nave structure,” along with evidence of a Christian meeting place and pottery marked with a Maltese cross.
The location of the site near a Sasanian military fort proved significant. Alexander Tamm, who co-led the excavation, said evidence of Zoroastrians was indirect but compelling. “If one thinks this through further and assumes that a small military unit may have been stationed there… these individuals were most likely Zoroastrians.” He added, “Religious diversity was common.”
Tamm explained that coexistence did not mean agreement. “Zoroastrianism includes multiple deities, whereas Christianity, of course, has only one God.” Burial practices also sharply differed, with Christian customs potentially viewed as offensive. Still, Tamm said there were signs of cooperation. “They likely respected each other’s customs, even when those practices partially contradicted their own religious teachings.”
The discovery underscores how ancient Christians preserved their faith under pagan rule, a history researchers say remains far from fully uncovered.
