A remarkable archaeological discovery near Jerusalem is reshaping our understanding of ascetic religious practices and traditions in the Byzantine era. Researchers have uncovered the remains of a woman in a burial previously believed to be exclusive to male ascetics, prompting a reassessment of women's roles in extreme religious practices during the fifth century AD.
Initially assumed to be the remains of an ascetic monk, the burial contained iron chains, an element commonly associated with self-mortification. However, scientific analysis of the tooth enamel of the body revealed a surprising truth: the remains likely belonged to a woman, a discovery that has profound implications for the study of early Christian practices in the later Roman world.
“During the Byzantine period, after Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire in 380 AD, important changes in the expression of faith took place in the Near East,” the study authors wrote in an article about their research appearing in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. “These changes, triggered by the role of Christian martyrs and monks, generated a proliferation of monasteries and the practice of asceticism.”
This unexpected discovery raises important questions about the extent of female participation in asceticism during Byzantine times. Was this woman an exception to the rule that normally ensured that ascetics were men? Or was she one of many women who were given recognition as legitimate, practicing ascetics?
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A Pioneering Archaeological Find
Excavations at Khirbat el-Masani, a site located just a few kilometers from Jerusalem’s Old City, uncovered a Byzantine monastery dating between 350 and 650 AD. Among the burials discovered, one in particular stood out—a skeleton bound in heavy iron chains. The chains consisted of large metal rings that were wrapped around the body’s neck, arms, and legs, weighed several dozen kilograms, reinforcing the belief that they were used for ascetic self-restraint.
“At this time, a common practice of asceticism was to wrap heavy metal chains around the body in order to limit mobility,” the study authors wrote in their journal article. “Being a stylite, living at the top of a pillar while preaching, praying and fasting, was another common ascetic practice.”
A map of the discovery site, a broader view of the Khirbat el-Masani archaeological zone, and the chained individual found in the grave. (Kotli, et.al/Journal of Archaelogical Science: Reports).
Despite the poor preservation of the remains, the team of researchers who analyzed the body, led by Paula Kotli from the Weizmann Institute of Science, conducted a meticulous study. Their examination of three cervical vertebrae and a single tooth helped determine that the individual was an adult between 30 and 60 years old at the time of death. Using peptide analysis, they identified proteins linked to the X chromosome while finding no traces of those associated with the Y chromosome, confirming the individual was female.
This revelation challenges long-standing assumptions that such extreme practices were limited to men—although there was at least some previous evidence that women were not entirely excluded from ascetic pursuits.
Historically, written records suggested that women in the Roman Empire embraced asceticism as early as the 4th century AD. Figures such as Melania the Elder and her granddaughter, Melania the Roman, renounced wealth and comfort in pursuit of spiritual purity. Nevertheless, this burial marks the first concrete archaeological evidence that women also engaged in physically punishing ascetic rituals involving heavy chains.
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The monastery’s location along a Christian pilgrimage route further underscores its significance. As Jerusalem grew into a major religious center, monasteries like this one served as spiritual havens for devout travelers. The presence of a female ascetic within such an environment suggests that women played a far more active role in these rigorous religious communities than was previously understood.
The Underestimated Role of Women in Ancient Religions
This groundbreaking discovery not only expands our understanding of women’s participation in asceticism but also challenges conventional narratives about gender roles in Byzantine religious practices. The evidence now suggests that women, like men, engaged in extreme acts of self-discipline in their quest for spiritual enlightenment.
Optical microscope images of the archaeological upper premolar tooth, which helped in the identification of the Byzantine-era female monk. (Kotli, et.al/Journal of Archaelogical Science: Reports).
Moreover, the findings encourage further exploration into similar sites, to see if more remains belonging to female ascetics can be found. While written historical records have often emphasized male figures in religious communities, physical archaeological proof provides a new layer of insight into the lives of women who chose to devote their lives to Christ.
The surprise created by this discovery highlights a broader trend in religious history, where women have frequently been overlooked despite their crucial roles in spiritual movements. From medieval Christian mystics to Hindu sadhvis, women have long participated in a diverse range of religious practices, often facing harsher scrutiny than their male counterparts. But this discovery of a female ascetic in Byzantine Jerusalem offers a unique opportunity to integrate women's experiences more fully into historical narratives that have traditionally marginalized their contributions.
Future research may very well uncover additional evidence of female asceticism in the Byzantine world, or conversely this could prove to be a singular find that shows such activity was rare. Either way, this highly unusual find has already forced the alteration of preconceived notions about gender roles in early Christian practice.
Top image: The burial that contained the chained body of the female ascetic monk from Byzantine-era Jerusalem.
Source: Journal of Archaelogical Science: Reports.
By Nathan Falde
