Archaeologists from Innsbruck University have uncovered a marble shrine at a church site in southern Austria, believed to be tied to Moses and the Ten Commandments. The shrine, found under an altar in a chapel atop Burgbichl hill in Irschen, contained a 1,500-year-old ivory box decorated with Christian motifs.

Since 2016, excavations in Irschen, part of the Carinthian Drava Valley, have been ongoing. Lead archaeologist Gerald Grabherr noted the rarity of such finds: “We know of around 40 ivory boxes of this kind worldwide. The last one was found about 100 years ago. Most are preserved in cathedral treasures or museums.”

The ivory box, or pyx, features Old Testament scenes. One shows a man receiving something from a hand emerging from the sky, interpreted as Moses receiving the laws on Mount Sinai. Another depicts a man in a chariot being pulled into heaven by the same hand, believed to represent the Ascension of Christ. Grabherr highlighted the uniqueness of the chariot depiction, saying, “The depiction of the Ascension of Christ with a two-horse chariot is very special and previously unknown.”

The site has yielded significant finds, including two Christian churches, a cistern, and personal belongings of the settlement’s former inhabitants. This hilltop settlement dates back to the end of the Roman Empire when people moved to more defensible locations.

Researchers are further investigating the origins of the ivory, metallic components, and wooden parts found in the marble box. These discoveries provide insight into the religious and cultural practices of late antiquity, illustrating the connection between Old and New Testament scenes.

Re-reported from the article originally published in NEW YORK POST.