Carbonized round loaf showing a raised figure and surrounding Greek letters. Credit: Karaman Valiliği

Archaeologists in southern Turkey have unearthed five remarkably preserved loaves of bread dating to the Byzantine era, including one bearing a Greek inscription and an image of Jesus Christ.

The discovery, made in the ancient Greek city of Eirenopolis (Greek: Εἰρηνούπολις)—modern-day Topraktepe in Karaman’s Ermenek District—offers new insight into the spiritual and cultural life of early Christian Anatolia.

Exceptional preservation over 1,300 years

The loaves, found in a carbonized state, date to the 7th or 8th century AD. Experts say they survived more than a millennium thanks to rare preservation conditions that kept their shapes and surface details intact. They are now considered among the best-preserved bread specimens ever found in Anatolia, revealing traces of everyday life that blend faith, artistry, and ritual.

Loaf with a stamped grid pattern. Credit: Karaman Valiliği

A message of gratitude in Greek

One loaf stands out for its detailed decoration. It bears a Greek inscription that, translated in English, reads “With our gratitude to the Blessed Jesus,” alongside an image of Christ. Epigraphic specialists confirmed the translation and say the phrase likely represents an act of thanksgiving or prayer.

A loaf found at the Topraktepe excavations. Credit: Karaman Valiliği

The use of Greek—the liturgical and administrative language of the Byzantine Empire—underscores the region’s strong connection to Hellenic-Christian traditions that shaped early Byzantine society.

Christ as a Sower, not a ruler

Unlike the familiar Byzantine depictions of “Christ Almighty” (Pantokrator), the figure on the bread portrays Jesus as a “Sower” or “Farmer.” Archaeologists argue that this interpretation reflects the spiritual significance of labor and fertility in the era’s theology.

Excavation area at Topraktepe. Credit: Karaman Valiliği

The imagery recalls the Parable of the Sower from the Greek New Testament, symbolizing faith spreading like seeds and connecting divine grace with human effort.

Ritual bread linked to early Christian worship

Other loaves uncovered at the site bear Cross impressions, suggesting they may have served as Eucharist bread used in early Christian Communion rituals.

Such markings, experts say, reflect Greek Orthodox liturgical traditions where leavened bread—known as prosphoron (Greek: προσφορά)—was baked with sacred inscriptions or symbols before being offered during the Divine Liturgy.

A glimpse into Greek-Byzantine life in Anatolia

The discovery reveals how Greek language, faith, and daily sustenance intertwined in Byzantine Anatolia. The bread embodies a fusion of culture and devotion—an artifact of both survival and worship.

Aerial view of the excavation grid at Topraktepe, Ermenek District, Karaman Province. Credit: Karaman Valiliği

Officials describe the find as one of the most remarkable discoveries in recent years, revealing the enduring reach of the Greek language and Orthodox symbolism deep within Anatolia. The Byzantine-era bread with its Greek inscription stands as a tangible link between the faith of ancient communities and the shared cultural legacy of the Greek-speaking Byzantine world.