There have been approximately 390 ancient churches found in the Levant, which is the highest concentration of any region in the world. Many ancient sites have more than one church, and a few sites have several churches, including Madaba in Jordan where fourteen have been uncovered.   
 

While the large majority of these churches were built after the beginning of the fourth century, most of were built in the same plan as earlier Roman public buildings, called a basilica. Basilicas were not typically used as temples in the Roman Empire, which generally excluded the public from their interiors. In contrast, basilicas were meant for public gatherings, so the adoption of the basilica instead of the temple as the main design of churches reflected the Church’s belief in congregational participation in worship. It was also a means of distinguishing Christianity from paganism and, since synagogues were also built in the general basilica plan, a hearkening back to Judaism. While incorporating the basilica, Christians made small but very important changes. Christian basilicas were elongated and their entrances moved to one of the narrow sides, thus bringing the focus forward toward the altar.  The interior of these churches reflected the theology that entering them was akin to entering heaven on earth. They were decorated with elaborate mosaic floors, precious metals, and detailed carvings. The majority of these basilicas were sized according to the population of the town where they were located. A few, meant to accommodate large numbers of pilgrims, such as the Eleona Church in Jerusalem, were massive monuments.  
 

Another style of church was used when a certain spot wanted to be commemorated as a holy place. These memorial churches were round or octagonal, with a domed roof, thus focusing attention on the center, which was often a rock that was said to have been the very spot where some biblical event actually occurred. Examples of these include the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives and the church built over Peter’s House in Capernaum. Muslims adopted this design for the Dome of the Rock  as well. 
 

These two designs were sometimes used interchangeably, or even melded together, as in the case with the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.  
 

One  of the few pre-fourth century churches that have been found was discovered by accident when workers were expanding a jail near Megiddo in 2005. It has been dated to around A.D. 230. The site had previously been identified as being the headquarters of two Roman legions, and later as a Byzantine city. In a corner of a building that appears to have served as housing for military commanders, as well as administrative functions and a military bakery, excavators found what they called a “Christian prayer hall.”  The hall had two rectangular pavers pressed into the floor which the excavators think supported a table or altar for the Eucharist. The most interesting find was a well preserved mosaic floor containing an inscription that reads, “The God-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.”  This inscription is the oldest known archaeological evidence of Jesus being worshipped as God. 
 

Several examples of House Churches have also been discovered, including Peter’s House in Capernaum (underneath an octagonal Byzantine memorial church), in which excavators found early Christian markings and the Dura-Europos house church, where a house was modified to include a worship hall and a baptistery.