Archaeologists In Austria Find 1,500-Year-Old Relic Possibly Linked To Moses, Ten Commandments

Archaeologists from the University of Innsbruck have made a remarkable discovery at a church excavation site in southern Austria. Unearthing a marble shrine, they found a rare 1,500-year-old ivory box adorned with Christian motifs, believed to be connected to Moses and the Ten Commandments.

In a press statement, Innsbruck University said this relic holds immense significance due to its rarity among early Christian artifacts. Gerald Grabherr, the lead archaeologist, expressed astonishment at the find: “We know of around 40 ivory boxes like this worldwide, and the last discovery during excavations was about a century ago. Most of these pyxes are either housed in cathedral treasuries or displayed in museums.”

The intricately carved box was discovered beneath an altar inside a chapel atop Burgbichl, a hill in Irschen municipality. The area, part of the Carinthian Drava Valley, has been under excavation since 2016 by the University of Innsbruck. “The depiction on the box likely represents Moses receiving the laws on Mount Sinai, marking the covenant between God and humanity from the Old Testament,” Grabherr explained. He noted the historical context of the find, citing the uncertainties of the late Roman Empire era, particularly in outlying provinces like Austria.

The discovery underlines the archaeological significance of early Christian artifacts in this region. It sheds light on religious practices and beliefs during a transformative period in history. The University of Innsbruck plans to further study and preserve this significant artifact, contributing valuable insights into Austria’s ancient Christian heritage. Since its discovery, the 1,500-year-old, very fragile ivory reliquary has been conserved at the University of Innsbruck.

“Ivory, especially ivory stored on the ground like in the marble shrine, absorbs moisture from its surroundings and is very soft and easily damaged in this state. In addition, uncontrolled drying out can lead to shrinkage and cracks and thus to damage that can no longer be repaired,” said Ulrike Töchterle, head of the restoration workshop in Innsbruck.