Prisoners excavating a site near the biblical Armageddon uncovered what archaeologists said on Sunday may be the Holy Land's oldest church, reports the Independent Online.
Told to dig in an area where the Prisons' Authority wants to build new wards for 1,200 Palestinian security prisoners, the Israeli criminals uncovered mosaics that experts said was the floor of a church from the third century, decades before Constantine legalised Christianity across the Byzantine Empire.
"What's clear today is that it's the oldest archaeological remains of a church in Israel, maybe even in the entire region, whether in the entire world, it's still too early to say," said Yotam Tepper, the excavation's head archeologist.
Israeli officials were giddy at the news, with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon calling the church "an amazing story".
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