Scientists discover an old garden remain on the burial site of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem

In a revolutionary discovery, archaeologists have discovered Traces of an old garden Under the church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, an observation which aligns with a description of the Gospel of John. This remarkable excavation, detailed by the time of Israel, reveals a biblical landscape which was hidden below the floor of the church for centuries, offering new perspectives on the rich historical and religious meaning of the site. The discovery captivated both historians and believers, highlighting the region which would have been the site of the crucifixion and the burial of Jesus.

Traces of olive trees and vines found

The team of archaeologists, led by Professor Francesca Romana Stasolla of the University of Sapienza in Rome, found proof of olive trees and vines under the ground of the church, by an archaeobotanic and pollen analysis. These results support the gospel of the description of Jean in the region, which is read as follows: “Now, where it was crucified, there was a garden; And in the garden a new sepulcher, where has never been a man “(John 19: 19-20). Identification of these plants suggests that the area has been used to agriculture Before the construction of the church.

These discoveries give a tangible link with the biblical account of the tomb of the garden, confirming the historical precision of the representation by the gospel of the landscape in the time of Jesus. The evidence collected until now place the site in the pre-Christian era, although the radiocarbon tests have not yet been carried out to identify the exact dating of the plants.

Historical context and Roman influence

The historic layers of the site offer a complex view of the evolution of the region over time. According to Prof. Stasollathe area was incorporated into the Roman city of Aelia Capitolinabuilt under the reign of Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century BC. “We know that the region was already part of the city at the time of Emperor Hadrian when the Romans built Aelia Capitolina,” she said. “However, at the time of Jesus, the region was not yet part of the city.” This distinction is crucial, because it highlights the transition from the site of an agricultural space to an integrated in the Roman city.

The excavations also revealed several Iron Age artifacts, including pottery And lampsThis also confirms that the area was used long before the rise of Christianity. These discoveries give an overview of the daily life of Jerusalem during the previous periods, offering a backdrop to the subsequent Christian meaning of the site.

Excavation and catering efforts

The recent excavation is part of a vast renovation project aimed at restoring the church of the Holy Sepulcher, which has undergone numerous cycles of destruction and reconstruction over the centuries. The renovation is particularly important because it marks the first major restoration since a fire in 1808. In a rare interview with the time of Israel, Prof. Stasolla Shared information on the work in progress, emphasizing the collaboration between the religious communities which manage the Church, including the Orthodox patriarchy, the guard of the Holy Land and the Armenian patriarchy.

“With renovation work, religious communities have decided to also authorize archaeological excavations under the ground,” said Stasolla. This decision opened the door to new archaeological ideas, adding strata of history to an already monumental religious site. While the excavation continues, Stasolla And his team explored different fields of the church, working with great care to preserve both the archaeological integrity of the site and the current religious activities which take place there.

Technological innovations and future discoveries

Although the excavations are still in progress, new technologies Allow the team to reconstitute the historic puzzle of the church. “Although we have not been able to see the whole entire church excavated at a glance, new technologies allow us to rebuild the situation in our laboratories,” said Stasolla. “If we were talking about a puzzle, we could say that we are only looking for a piece at a time, but ultimately, we will have a complete multimedia reconstruction of the complete image.”

These progress in archaeological technology Allow the team to rebuild the history of the site from its old Iron Age Origins to the present day, offering a global vision of the importance of the Church in religious and historical contexts.