23 May 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeological Dig at Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre Corroborates New Testament Account of Garden

A significant archaeological excavation nearing its conclusion at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City has yielded remarkable discoveries, offering unprecedented insights into the historical landscape of the site revered by Christians worldwide. Among the key findings are archaeobotanical and pollen analyses indicating the presence of olive trees and grapevines approximately 2,000 years ago, a detail that strikingly aligns with the description found in the Gospel of John.

The Gospel of John 19:41-42 states, “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.” The recent excavations beneath the floor of the ancient basilica have provided tangible evidence supporting this biblical account.

Professor Francesca Romana Stasolla of the Sapienza University of Rome, who has been leading the excavations since 2022, explained to The Times of Israel that the presence of these plants was identified through meticulous analysis of samples retrieved from beneath the church’s current flooring. While the archaeological context suggests a pre-Christian era, radiocarbon dating is still underway to precisely confirm the age of the botanical remains.

“The archaeobotanical findings have been especially interesting for us, in light of what is mentioned in the Gospel of John,” Professor Stasolla noted. “The Gospel mentions a green area between Calvary and the tomb, and we identified these cultivated fields.”

The ongoing excavation is part of a larger restoration project agreed upon by the three primary religious communities managing the church: the Orthodox Patriarchate, the Custody of the Holy Land, and the Armenian Patriarchate. This endeavor marks the first major restoration of the basilica since the aftermath of an 1808 fire. The archaeological work is being conducted under a license from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Excavations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Credit: Archivio Università di Roma Sapienza
Excavations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Credit: Archivio Università di Roma Sapienza

Professor Stasolla clarified that while the area was outside the main city during the time of Jesus, by the 2nd century CE, under Emperor Hadrian, it had become part of the Roman city of Aelia Capitolina. Earlier findings from the excavation also include pottery, lamps, and other everyday objects dating back to the Iron Age (1200-586 BCE), indicating the long history of human activity at the site, which was once a quarry before being used for agriculture and later as a burial ground.

Notably, archaeologists also unearthed low stone walls that appear to have demarcated garden plots. This discovery further bolsters the Gospel of John’s description of a garden in the vicinity of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial.

In addition to the botanical evidence, the team has uncovered a circular marble base beneath the Edicule, the shrine that currently encloses the traditional site of Jesus’ tomb. Professor Stasolla believes this could be part of the original monumentalization of the tomb dating back to the 4th century, during the reign of Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor who built the first church on the site in 335 CE. Historical depictions from the 5th and 6th centuries also portray a circular structure. Geological analysis is being conducted to determine the origin of the marble and the mortar used.

Other significant finds include a hoard of coins from the 4th century CE and hundreds of animal bones, offering insights into the diet of those who lived and visited the holy site over the centuries.

Despite the compelling evidence unearthed, Professor Stasolla emphasized the importance of distinguishing between faith and historical inquiry. “However, it is the faith of those who have believed in the holiness of this site for millennia that has allowed it to exist and transform,” she stated. “The real treasure we are revealing is the history of the people who made this site what it is by expressing their faith here.”

A partially excavated floor in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in June 2023 reveals the different types of construction and masonry used throughout the centuries. Credit: Archivio Università La Sapienza, Roma
A partially excavated floor in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in June 2023 reveals the different types of construction and masonry used throughout the centuries. Credit: Archivio Università La Sapienza, Roma

The comprehensive scientific documentation of all findings, including approximately 100,000 pottery fragments, is anticipated to take several years. Nevertheless, the current discoveries provide significant corroboration for the New Testament’s depiction of the landscape surrounding one of Christianity’s most sacred sites.

This archaeological endeavor not only enhances our understanding of the historical landscape of Jerusalem but also reinforces the connection between faith and the physical remnants of the past, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing exploration of biblical history.

Cover Image Credit: Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Credit: Gerd Eichmann/CC BY-SA 4.0

Related Articles

Largest Anglo-Saxon cemetery discovered in Britain illuminates ‘Dark Ages’

16 June 2022

16 June 2022

Archaeologists working on HS2 (the purpose-built high-speed railway line) have discovered a rich Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, where almost...

Remarkable Roman mosaic discovered near London Bridge in Southwark

22 February 2022

22 February 2022

A team of archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology have announced the discovery well-preserved Roman mosaic that may have...

2000-Year-Old Roman Origins Confirmed for Elche’s Monumental L’Assut de l’Argamassa Dam

17 May 2025

17 May 2025

An archaeological research project has unveiled that the imposing L’Assut de l’Argamassa dam in Elche, Spain, long suspected to be...

Long-Awaited Excavation to Commence at Mount Ararat ‘Noah’s Ark’ Site

9 May 2025

9 May 2025

The legendary search for Noah’s Ark, a tale that has captivated imaginations and spurred countless expeditions for generations, is poised...

Archaeologists Discovered a Fragmentary Inscription in Cypriot Syllabary Found Dating to the Cypro-Archaic Period

1 December 2024

1 December 2024

During excavations at Palaepaphos, located within the municipal boundaries of the modern village of Kouklia-Martsello on the southwest coast of...

Largest-Known Flower Preserved in Amber Is Nearly 40 Million Years Old

20 January 2023

20 January 2023

The largest-known fossilized flower encased in amber, dating back nearly 40 million years, was again discovered in the Baltic region...

Byzantine monk chained with iron rings unearthed near Jerusalem

4 January 2023

4 January 2023

A skeleton chained with iron rings was discovered at Khirbat el-Masani, about four kilometers northwest of Jerusalem, along the ancient...

More than 100 bronze mirrors found at Sakurai Chausuyama burial mound in Japan

3 October 2023

3 October 2023

Archaeologists in Japan have unearthed more than 100 ancient bronze mirrors from the Sakurai Chausuyama burial mound in Sakurai, Nara...

Significant Archaeological Discovery on Failaka Island: Hellenistic Courtyard and Building Unearthed

17 February 2025

17 February 2025

The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) has announced a remarkable archaeological find on Failaka Island, revealing a...

Apocalypse Ship of the Vikings

26 April 2021

26 April 2021

Researchers discovered a stone boat made by Vikings and surprising gifts inside a cave in Iceland. Aside from the cave,...

Archaeologists have found a previously unknown Roman city with buildings of monumental proportions in Spain’s Aragon Region

17 July 2022

17 July 2022

Archaeologists from the University of Zaragoza in Spain have discovered a previously unknown Roman city with buildings of monumental proportions....

A marble slab with an inscription from the 2nd century was discovered during excavations in Bulgaria

18 October 2023

18 October 2023 3

Archaeologists discovered a 1,900-year-old marble slab bearing an ancient Greek inscription in the Roman Baths of Hisarya, a small resort...

Researchers identified, for the first time, the composition of a Roman perfume more than 2,000 years old

25 May 2023

25 May 2023

A research team at the University of Cordoba has identified, for the first time, the composition of a Roman perfume...

Medieval Hub of Arts & Crafts Center discovered in Nola: The discovery could rewrite the history of early medieval Nola

23 August 2023

23 August 2023

On the outskirts of Nola, a district from the early Middle Ages has been discovered. According to the Soprintendenza Archeologia,...

2000-year-old quarry discovered in Jerusalem that could be the source of Second temple stones

5 September 2021

5 September 2021

Archaeologists have discovered a 2,000-year-old quarry in Har Hotzvim, now an industrial park in Jerusalem. The Israel Antiquities Authority said...