Archaeologists in Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman port near Rome, have discovered what may be Europe’s oldest mikvah, a Jewish ritual bath, dating to the late 4th or early 5th century C.E.

Found in a private residence, the underground pool was fed by groundwater and decorated with black and white tiles.

A menorah-adorned oil lamp found at the site supports its identification as a mikvah, though some scholars urge caution.

Ostia Antica, once a cultural hub, was home to one of the earliest synagogues in Western Europe, Smithsonian Magazine has reported.

Excavations will continue, and the discovery is expected to draw Jewish visitors.

Written by B.C. Begley