Archaeologists in Turkey believe they may have uncovered the remains of a smaller church that hosted the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.

The excavation took place in the ancient city of Nicaea, now İznik, where researchers found stone foundations and flooring beneath the later Church of the Holy Fathers.

Excavation director Mustafa Şahin believes the earlier structure was the Church of St. Neophytos, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 368 A.D.

Evidence from coins and historical accounts suggests the smaller church existed when the council took place and may better match descriptions of the meeting site, Fox News has reported.

If confirmed, the discovery could provide important new evidence about the location where early Christian leaders established the Nicene Creed and rejected Arian beliefs.