World News
Excavations beneath Church of the Holy Sepulchre reveal first-century agricultural remains
Archaeologists uncovered ancient pollen and seeds indicating the Jerusalem site transitioned from a quarry to a garden, matching descriptions in biblical texts.
The short version
- Archaeologists led by Francesca Stasolla completed excavations beneath Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre and published their findings in Liber Annuus.
- Soil analysis identified ancient seeds and pollen showing the area was used for agriculture and tombs during the first century A.D. after stone quarrying ceased.
- Scholars say the botanical evidence aligns with biblical descriptions in the Gospel of John that place a garden at the crucifixion and burial site.
Key facts
- An excavation team led by Sapienza University of Rome professor Francesca Stasolla published a 98-page preliminary report in Liber Annuus detailing findings beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.[Fox News]
- Researchers uncovered ancient seeds and pollen preserved between layers marking the end of quarry operations and the start of Roman funerary use.[Fox News]
- The botanical remains date to the first century A.D., showing the abandoned quarry site was utilized for agriculture and burials.[Fox News]
- Early Christianity scholar Douglas Estes noted the botanical data provides corroborating archaeological evidence for the landscape described in John 19:41.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The findings are based on a preliminary excavation report, and researchers continue to reconstruct the complete historical timeline of the site.[Fox News]