A rare seal bearing a picture of Jesus on one side was discovered at an archeological dig in the old city of Tiberias on Thursday.
The other side of the seal, which dates from the sixth century, depicts a cross and bears the inscription "Christos."
The seal was discovered by two volunteers, employees of the American and British embassies.
Prof. Yizhar Hirschfeld of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who is directing the dig, said the seal apparently belonged to a high-ranking church official, and indicated that the church in Tiberias "was stronger than we had thought."