In 1945, villagers digging for fertilizer in Upper Egypt found a sealed jar of codices, and Nag Hammadi changed the study of early Christianity

Villagers near Nag Hammadi found a sealed jar in 1945. Inside were thirteen ancient books. These books contained early Christian texts unknown for centuries. The discovery expanded historical knowledge of early Christianity. Scholars gained access to writings lost to mainstream traditions. This find reshaped manuscript studies and the history of Christianity.