**Byzantine-Era Ascetic’s Remains Reveal Women Practiced Extreme Asceticism Near Jerusalem**
Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery near Jerusalem: the remains of a Byzantine-era ascetic wrapped in chains, dating back to between 350 and 650 A.D. Using advanced dental enamel protein analysis, researchers identified the likely biological sex of the ascetic as female. This finding challenges long-held assumptions about early Christian practices and reveals that women, not just men, engaged in extreme asceticism—reshaping our understanding of early Christian devotional traditions.
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**The Fascinating World of Extreme Asceticism**
Asceticism in Christianity has been practiced for centuries and encompasses a wide array of devotional practices, from fasting to meditation. However, it is the more extreme forms—such as bodies voluntarily chained to rocks, acts of self-flagellation, and consenting abstinence from food to the point of emaciation—that have long captivated the public imagination.
These radical acts were first documented in the second century, often evoking both fascination and condemnation. Church figures like Saint Barsanuphius and John the Prophet condemned such extreme behaviors. Yet, some ascetics like Simeon Stylites, who famously spent 36 years atop a pillar, have been immortalized in literature and art—from Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poetry to films by Mexican director Luis Buñuel.
In modern times, extreme asceticism has returned to public awareness through pop culture—for example, the character Silas, the self-flagellating monk in the thriller novel *The Da Vinci Code*. Interestingly, nearly all depictions of such “ecstatic suffering” feature male practitioners.
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**Challenging Assumptions: Women and Extreme Asceticism**
Historians have generally assumed that extreme self-punishment was exclusively performed by men during the Byzantine period. A recent Haaretz article summarized this prevailing belief: “Only men performed self-punishment in the Byzantine period… Ecstatic suffering was the fief of the exalted male.”
This assumption, however, has now been called into question thanks to an article published in the *Journal of Archaeological Science*. The research provides the first solid evidence that women in early Christendom also engaged in acts of self-punishment.
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**The Discovery at a Byzantine Monastery Near Jerusalem**
The evidence came from excavations of a Byzantine monastery near Jerusalem’s Old City, which existed from approximately 350 to 650 A.D. Archaeologists uncovered two crypts containing the remains of men, women, and children. However, one particular set of remains was heavily degraded by tree roots and environmental factors, rendering traditional skeletal analysis impossible because the pelvis and other diagnostic bones were indecipherable.
What stood out, though, was that these remains were wrapped in chains—an indication of a practitioner of particularly extreme asceticism. With only three vertebrae and a single tooth available, and DNA too degraded after roughly 1,600 years, the researchers looked to a novel method for identifying the biological sex.
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**Dental Protein Analysis: A Novel Method**
Dr. Paula Kotli and her team pioneered a groundbreaking methodology originally used for studying ancient animal domestication. This technique analyzed a protein found in dental enamel called amelogenin, which differs slightly between males and females.
Humans possess two copies of the amelogenin gene: one on the X chromosome and one on the Y chromosome. Individuals with two X chromosomes have only the X-linked amelogenin protein. Males, with one X and one Y chromosome, produce both X- and Y-linked amelogenin proteins.
Applying this method to the tooth of the chain-bound ascetic revealed no presence of the Y-linked amelogenin, suggesting the individual was biologically female.
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**Implications for Understanding Early Christian Worship**
While the researchers cautiously state that the absence of Y-linked amelogenin “very probably” indicates a female, the possibility of protein degradation means absolute certainty remains elusive. Still, the team expresses strong confidence in their conclusion.
This discovery offers profound insight into ancient devotional practices, broadening our understanding of early Christian worship—not only in terms of what was practiced but also who was permitted and willing to undertake such extreme ascetic acts.
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This article is a collaboration with Biography.com.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a69229290/christian-asceticism-bones-history/