Buried in chains: 1,500-year-old early Christian female skeleton challenges history

Archaeologists in Israel have made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges long-held beliefs about gender roles in early Christian monasticism.

At the Byzantine-era monastery of Khirbat el-Masani, northwest of Jerusalem, researchers uncovered the remains of a 1,500-year-old ascetic wrapped in heavy metal chains.

Initially believed to be male—given the widely accepted assumption that extreme bodily mortification was a practice reserved for men—the skeleton was later confirmed to be female through advanced scientific analysis.

This discovery not only provides direct archaeological evidence of female participation in extreme ascetic practices but also forces historians to reconsider the role of women in Byzantine religious life.

The Byzantine-era female skeleton buried in chains was found near Jerusalem, Israel, Mar. 3, 2025. (Courtesy of Israel Antiquities)

Extraordinary revelation of female skeleton in chains

The excavation, conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in collaboration with the Weizmann Institute of Science, uncovered multiple burial crypts dating from the fourth to seventh centuries CE.

• Among these graves, one stood out: a skeleton draped in chains, a hallmark of extreme religious devotion in early Byzantine Christianity.
• Given the historical precedent of male ascetics engaging in physical self-mortification, archaeologists initially assumed the remains belonged to a man.

However, scientific analysis revealed an unexpected truth about early Christian times:

• Researchers conducted peptide analysis on the enamel of the individual's teeth.
• They detected AMELX (a gene found on the X chromosome) but found no AMELY (a Y-chromosome gene)—confirming that the remains were female.

The ruins of El-Masani church, with the T3 tomb where the chained female skeleton of the early Christian ascetic was found, Israel, Mar. 3, 2025. (Courtesy of Israel Antiquities)

This revelation challenges assumptions about women's participation in extreme asceticism:

• It was previously believed that women pursued asceticism in milder forms, such as fasting and prayer, rather than through extreme bodily discipline.
• Her presence challenges the idea that extreme asceticism was exclusively male, revealing a more complex spiritual landscape.
• Her burial with the chains indicates that they were an integral part of her spiritual identity, not just a temporary practice.

Implications of female skeleton discovery are significant to understand early Christian times:

• It provides rare physical evidence that some women engaged in ascetic traditions on par with their male counterparts.
• It forces historians to reevaluate women's roles in early Byzantine religious life and reconsider assumptions about gender in early Christian monasticism.

Empress Theodora and her attendants are depicted in a 6th-century early Christian mosaic from the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

Women in early Christian times: Suppressed, yet present

Women in the Byzantine Empire were largely confined to domestic roles, with their participation in public and religious life heavily restricted.

Society viewed them as subordinate to men, and religious doctrine reinforced these norms by discouraging female leadership within the church.

While some women entered monastic life, their religious expression was generally believed to focus on prayer, charitable work, and self-denial rather than extreme bodily discipline.

However, historical records reveal that some women embraced asceticism, particularly among the aristocracy:

• Figures like Melania the Elder and Melania the Younger renounced their wealth to dedicate themselves to monastic life.
• They were primarily known for founding and managing convents rather than practicing extreme bodily self-discipline.

The discovery of the female skeleton Khirbat el-Masani challenges this perception by providing rare material evidence that some women engaged in severe ascetic practices traditionally associated with men. Until now, such practices were assumed to be exclusive to male monks.

A map showing Khirbat el-Masani near Jerusalem, with the El-Masani church ruins and the T3 cist tomb where a chained individual was found, Israel, Mar. 3, 2025. (Courtesy of Matan Chocron, IAA)

This aligns with a broader reassessment of women's roles during early Christian times in Byzantium:

• Despite legal and cultural restrictions, women found ways to exert influence—whether through religious life, philanthropy, or even imperial politics.
• Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian I, is a prime example of a woman who overcame societal constraints to wield power.
• Similarly, the identification of a female ascetic at Khirbat el-Masani suggests that women could participate in rigorous spiritual practices previously thought to be reserved for men.

By recognizing female ascetics who engaged in extreme bodily mortification, this discovery reshapes our understanding of gender roles in Byzantine religious life and calls for a reevaluation of women's spiritual contributions.

Microscopic images of an upper premolar tooth from the burial, showing decay and structural details, Israel, Mar. 3, 2025. (Courtesy of Matan Chocron, IAA)

Scientific methods reshape historical narratives

The sex determination of the remains was achieved through dental enamel proteomics, a method that extracts proteins from tooth enamel to determine biological sex. The poor condition of the skeleton made traditional osteological analysis insufficient, but this innovative approach conclusively confirmed the individual was female.

Dental enamel proteomics is a relatively recent but highly reliable technique, especially useful where skeletal remains are too deteriorated for traditional bone analysis. By analyzing peptides in tooth enamel—one of the hardest and most durable tissues in the human body—researchers can accurately determine biological sex, even in fragile archaeological remains.

Published in the "Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports", the study challenges long-standing assumptions about ascetic practices. Until now, physical evidence of female participation in extreme self-mortification was lacking.

Mortuary casts of the victims of the House of the Golden Bracelet, Pompeii (Italy). In the background on the right, the supposed woman with a child. (Photo via Courtesy of MIC, Archaeological Park of Pompeii)

Why identifying the sex of ancient remains matters

The identification of this female ascetic has major implications for our understanding of Byzantine monasticism and religious history.

For centuries, male-dominated narratives have shaped how we view early Christianity, often overlooking or minimizing women's contributions. This discovery forces historians to rethink long-standing assumptions about who practiced extreme asceticism.

But this isn't just about one woman - it reflects a larger issue in archaeology: how assumptions shape historical interpretation.

This reminds me of a recent DNA study in Pompeii that overturned long-held beliefs about ancient family structures.

• In Pompeii, archaeologists had long assumed that plaster-cast figures represented typical Roman family units
• A figure believed to be a mother holding a child turned out—through DNA testing—to be an unrelated adult male
• Another supposed pair of sisters or a mother and daughter included at least one genetic male, proving that assumptions based on visual interpretation can be misleading

This photo provided by the Archeological Park of Pompeii shows casts number 21 and 22, made in 1914, from Casa del Cryptoportico in Pompeii, Italy. (Photo via Courtesy of MIC, Archaeological Park of Pompeii)

Just as modern biases shaped Pompeii's historical reconstructions, traditional gender roles have influenced how ascetic burials are interpreted.

The discovery of a female skeleton at Khirbat el-Masani, much like the Pompeii findings, shows the importance of scientific advancements in archaeology.

DNA and proteomic analysis can uncover truths that visual interpretation alone cannot, challenging long-held assumptions about the past.

March 06, 2025 06:13 PM GMT+03:00