Workers engaged in excavating beneath the Greek city of Thessaloniki have discovered a graveyard dating from the first century BC through the fifth century AD that may offer evidence of early Christian & Jewish life in the city whose church the Apostle Paul addressed twice in his New Testament writings (1 & 2 Thessalonians).

The workers uncovered the 1,000 or so graves preparing to install a portion of the Thessaloniki metro. Digging began in 2006 & the first 13 stations are to be completed by the end of 2012.

Most of the graves (886), which ranged from simple holes with the remnants of simple wooden coffins to 5 room family mausoleums, were found just east of the city center, which was the eastern countryside during ancient days.

The Greek government will have supervisory oversight of the site & its contents as they are cataloged & studied by archaeologists.

For the full story: Ancient Graves Found in Greece.