Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority have discovered the remains of a Byzantine-era nun in Jerusalem, marking the first evidence of extreme asceticism practiced by women in the city.

The nun’s body, found bound with chains and metal rings, was located beneath a church altar in a 5th to 7th-century monastery.

This discovery challenges previous beliefs that extreme ascetic practices, like self-mortification, were exclusive to men.

Researchers used advanced proteomic analysis to confirm the individual was female.

The nun’s extreme asceticism, involving chains and other self-imposed restraints, reflects broader practices among Byzantine monks, Ancient Origins has reported.

The find sheds new light on the role of women in Byzantine monasticism.

Written by B.C. Begley