To the untrained eye, these ruins look unprepossessing to say the least but archaeologists maintain that the remains of this ancient, mud-brick complex represent the oldest, purpose-built church in the world. The foundations date back to the late third or early fourth century and the church was probably in use for about a century before an earthquake around the mid-4th century devastated the region. Layers of sand have helped preserve the walls, some of which are over two meters high.
