They’re digging for answers.
There has been an ongoing debate for many years over where Jesus was crucified and buried — with many experts believing the site to be on the grounds of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Now, new archaeological evidence might confirm their belief to be true.
A team of researchers from Sapienza University of Rome recently found remains of a plant — possibly the same plant referenced in John 19:41 — that dates back to the time of Jesus‘ death, which is believed to have happened around 33 A.D.
To be more specific, the Gospel of John 19:41 reads: “Now in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There they laid Jesus.”
“The Gospel mentions a green area between the Calvary and the tomb, and we identified these cultivated fields,” lead archaeologist, Francesca Romana Stasolla explained to The Times of Israel.
The plant remains are not the only confirmation that the Holy Sepulchre played a large role in Jesus’ history.
The researchers uncovered several other findings that all seem connected to Jesus. Another finding is tombs on the Holy Sepulchre compound.
The uncovered tombs, which were found to be made of marble, have a lot to do with Joseph of Arimathea — the biblical figure Christians believe gifted Jesus his burial plot, as explained by the Times of Israel.
Stasolla and her crew plan to do additional testing of the marble tomb to hopefully reveal more coveted information about Jesus’ death.
“We are conducting geological analysis to verify the origin of the marble, and we are also testing the mortar,” she said. “Both tests can give us important information.”
The team’s ongoing work had to be paused to keep the church accessible for patrons during Holy Week and Easter so the archaeological research will resume at the end of the month.
“We only have a part of the northern aisle left to excavate,” Stasolla said.
The lead archaeologist remains hopeful about what other findings her team will dig up.
“The real treasure we are revealing is the history of the people who made this site what it is by expressing their faith here,” she said.
“Whether someone believes or not in the historicity of the Holy Sepulchre, the fact that generations of people did is objective. The history of this place is the history of Jerusalem, and at least from a certain moment, it is the history of the worship of Jesus Christ,” the researcher added.
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