Posted: Oct 25, 2016 3:31 am
- "The real founders of the science of early Christian archaeology came in the 19th century:
Giuseppe Marchi (1795-1860) and Giovanni de Rossi (1822-1894)...[the latter] published
between 1857 and 1861 the first volume of "Inscriptiones christianae urbis Romae". Pope
Pius IX moved beyond collecting by appointing in 1852 a commission - "Commissione de
archaelogia sacra" - that would be responsible for all early Christian remains."
Ante Pacem: archaeological evidence of church life before Constantine
Graydon F. Snyder
Christian archaeology was kicked off by the utterly corrupt church organisation of the 19th century.
The first volume of Inscriptiones christianae urbis Romae" included forgeries by de Rossi.
It's a high-end side show. Typical Vatican turnstile material. Operative since Damasus in the 4th century.
The nation of Christians was interpolated into Josephus in the 4th century.
None of the evidence for Christians or their nation becomes compelling before the 4th century.
The entire field - Christian Archeology - is riddled with [Eusebian] confirmation bias.