An archaeological discovery in Jerusalem challenges established views on female asceticism in early Christianity

Chained Burial Site Discovered on the Outskirts of Jerusalem

Tangled among the roots of a tree several centuries old, an ancient burial site nearly never revealed its secrets. It was in the heart of a Byzantine-era monastery, located near the Old City of Jerusalem, that archaeologists unearthed the remains of an individual wrapped in heavy iron chains. This discovery—whose original burials date from a period between 350 and 650 CE—upends what historians thought they knew about the religious practices of the time.

Until now, mainstream historiography had associated the most extreme forms of self-mortification and asceticism exclusively with men. As highlighted in a 2025 article published in Haaretz regarding the general perception among researchers: “Only men practiced self-punishment during the Byzantine era” and “Ecstatic suffering was the domain of the exalted man.”

However, a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, conducted in collaboration with Biography.com, now provides “the first solid evidence that women in early Christianity also engaged in self-punishment.” This unprecedented breakthrough redefines the nature of female devotion within early Christianity.

Extreme asceticism in Christian imagination and tradition

Within the Christian faith, asceticism has long encompassed a wide range of spiritual practices, ranging from simple meditation to rigorous fasting. However, it is the most radical branch of this movement—first documented in the 2nd century—that has consistently captivated people. These ascetics sought spiritual transcendence through voluntary deprivation of food that reduced the body to skin and bones, acts of self-flagellation, or the choice to chain themselves directly to rocks.

These spectacular displays of physical rigor did not always meet with unanimous approval within the Church. Major religious figures such as Saint Barsanuphius and John the Prophet strongly condemned these excesses of self-punishment and extreme deprivation. Despite these warnings, the most spectacular acts of devotion have become legendary, such as that of Simeon the Stylite, who lived for 36 years atop a column.

This imagery of sacred suffering has endured through the centuries and become deeply rooted in popular culture. It inspired a famous poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, as well as a 1965 film directed by the Mexican filmmaker Luis Buñuel. More recently, in the 21st century, this concept of ecstatic agony resurfaced in the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code through the character of Silas, a monk who engages in self-flagellation. However, all these works shared one common thread: their protagonists were invariably men.

The Challenge of Biological Identification in the Face of the Ravages of Time

The archaeological site that prompted this historical revision comprises two separate crypts belonging to an ancient monastic complex. Upon completing their excavations, the researchers were able to scientifically classify most of the remains found as those of men, women, or children. However, the body bound in chains was in a particularly severe state of deterioration, caused by mechanical pressure from roots and the ravages of time.

The so-called “diagnostic” bones—in particular the pelvis, which usually allows for the visual determination of a skeleton’s biological sex—were completely unusable and indecipherable. The only usable traces of this extraordinary ascetic available to the scientists were three vertebrae and a single tooth, preserved after nearly 1,600 years underground.

Given such severe environmental and temporal degradation, extracting a viable DNA sample was impossible. With conventional genetic methods hitting a dead end, the team of archaeologists had to turn to a completely innovative methodology to unravel the mystery of the ascetic’s identity.

A biochemical analysis derived from veterinary research

Solving this puzzle relies on the pioneering work of Dr. Paula Kotli and her team. Originally, these scientists had developed a cutting-edge technique applied to archaeozoology to study the domestication of ancient animals and the evolution of herd management by determining the sex of fossilized bovine individuals.

This approach relies on the study of a protein found in tooth enamel called amelogenin. As Dr. Kotli explains, the human body has two copies of the gene encoding this protein: one located on the X chromosome and the other on the Y chromosome. Thus, a female biological individual (XX) produces only X-linked amelogenin, while the presence of Y-linked amelogenin confirms that the individual is male (XY).

When applied to the tooth found in the Byzantine burial site in Jerusalem, the biochemical analysis method detected no trace of Y-chromosome-linked amelogenin. This molecular signature indicates with a very high degree of probability that the tooth belonged to a woman.

A New Perspective on Gender Roles in the Early Church

Although the results are particularly compelling, the research team maintains a cautious scientific approach. In the article’s conclusions, the authors state: “The absence of a unique AmelY spectrum allowed us to classify the remains as most likely those of a woman.” Indeed, since these samples are 16 centuries old, it remains theoretically possible that the Y-chromosome-linked protein may have degraded to the point of becoming undetectable in the analytical spectra.

Despite this technical caveat, the researchers express great confidence in the reliability of their classification. This discovery offers unprecedented insight into the variety and intensity of personal devotions in early Christianity. It significantly broadens our understanding of the spectrum of faith during that era, not only in terms of the practices observed but also in terms of the people who were permitted to engage in them.

By demonstrating that women, too, could choose the path of extreme mortification and the wearing of chains, contemporary science shatters a deeply entrenched historical stereotype. This remains from Jerusalem thus redefines the place of female figures within the most radical spiritual traditions of Late Antiquity.

Source: popularmechanics.com

An archaeological discovery in Jerusalem challenges established views on female asceticism in early Christianity