During a 2017 exploration of a ruined settlement in the Negev desert, art historian Emma Maayan-Fanar entered an ancient church to seek shelter from the bright sun. As she looked up at the roof, however, she saw something remarkable.
Image: Dror Maayan via Science Alert
What she saw was dirty, the damaged painting above was unlike any that had been previously found. Even so, the find ended up helping create a whole new understanding of the region’s ancient art. This is the story of how a random accident led to a monumental religious discovery.