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Konstantinos Politis

Politis led an international team of excavators at Deir ‘Ain ‘Abata; their work uncovered an impressive basilica church with three curved apses, living quarters for monks and a hostel for pilgrims. Most intriguing of all, the church was built directly into the hillside and its left-hand aisle led directly into the cave. Using clues from the Bible and an ancient mosaic map, Politis deduced that the cave was believed by early Christians to have been the one where Lot and his daughters fled after the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.