Ancient silver charm found in Germany may change the course of Christian history in Europe

A small silver amulet discovered by archaeologists in Germany could transform our understanding of how Christianity spread under the Roman Empire, experts have said.

The tiny artefact, which measures about 3.6 centimetres long, was unearthed in a 3rd-century Roman grave just outside Frankfurt back in 2018.

Archaeologists discovered it on the skeleton of a man buried in a cemetery in the Roman city of Nida, one of the largest and most important sites in the central German state of Hesse.

A small silver amulet discovered by archaeologists in Germany could transform our understanding of how Christianity spread under the Roman Empire, experts have said. — A small silver amulet discovered by archaeologists in Germany could transform our understanding of how Christianity spread under the Roman Empire(CNN)

Peter Heather, a professor of medieval history at King’s College London with a specialist interest in the evolution of Christianity, described the discovery as a “fantastic find.”

Heather, who wasn’t involved in the research, told CNN: “The capacity to be able to decipher the writing on that rolled-up piece of silver is extraordinary.

This is something that’s only possible now with modern technology. If they’d found it 100 years ago they wouldn’t have known what it was.

Silver amulets are probably going to contain some kind of magical scroll but you don’t know what – it could be any religion.”

He added: “You’ve got evidence of Christian communities in more central parts of the empire but not in a frontier town like that in Roman Germany so that is very unusual, well it’s unique.