Jakarta, domclub Indonesia
—
Archaeologists digging below
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
in Jerusalem found signs of ancient gardens that match Biblical descriptions.
Many Christians believe that the church is a place
Jesus Christ
buried and to this day remains a major pilgrimage site.
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The discovery of 2,000-year-old olive trees and grapes is believed to reflect the story in John’s Gospel about the place where Jesus was crucified and buried.
“In the place where He was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden there was a new tomb that had never been used to bury anyone,” says the Gospel of John.
The discovery of these garden signs attracted researchers, especially because they were mentioned in the Bible.
“These archaeobotanical findings are very interesting for us, especially considering what is mentioned in the Gospel of John, the information of which is thought to have been written or collected by someone familiar with Jerusalem at that time,” said Francesca Romana Stasolla, Professor of Christian and Medieval Archeology at Rome’s “La Sapienza” University, quoted from
The Independent
last April.
“The Bible says there was a green area between Calvary and the grave, and we have identified those planted fields,” he added.
Furthermore, excavations have begun as churches expect the arrival of thousands of pilgrims during Easter celebrations in 2026.
The excavation is part of a project starting in 2022, marking the first major restoration since the 19th century.The restoration was led by a professor from the Sapienza University of Rome.
The restoration must be approved by Roman Catholic, Armenian, and Greek Orthodox administrators.In addition, it also requires permission from the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“With the renovation work, the religious community decided to also allow archaeological excavations under the floor,” Stasolla said.
The team discovered layers dating to the Iron Age beneath the basilica, including pottery, oil lamps and soil samples.
The presence of pre-Christian artifacts suggests that the land underwent changes over time, from a stone quarry, through agricultural land, to a burial site.
(lom/dmi)
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