Researchers may have found the tomb of Jesus – a 2,000-year-old garden reveals its exact location

During excavations beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Italian researchers uncovered the remains of 2,000-year-old olive trees and grapevines. These findings align with remarkable precision with the Gospel of John’s description of a garden, offering a new perspective on what we know about the tomb of Jesus.

Italian archaeologists have made an extraordinary discovery during excavations carried out beneath the floor of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The investigation of the Iron Age quarry lying under the church revealed, among other things, the remains of 2,000-year-old olive trees and vines. These findings correspond strikingly well with the description found in the Gospel of John, which mentions a garden next to the site of the crucifixion, according to Popular Mechanics.

Research only became possible a few years ago

According to Christian tradition, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre encompasses both Golgotha – the site of the crucifixion – and the tomb of Jesus, where he was laid after being taken down from the cross. Unsurprisingly, millions of pilgrims have visited the site for centuries.

Due to the constant crowds, any major archaeological research had long been extremely difficult to carry out. Moreover, decades-long disputes between the three religious communities overseeing the church – the Orthodox Patriarchate, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, and the Armenian Patriarchate – further hindered archaeological work.

The turning point came in 2019, when the parties finally agreed to renovate the 19th-century floor. Alongside the renovation, researchers were granted permission to conduct excavations beneath the flooring. The work was carried out by experts from Sapienza University of Rome.

• WOW! Did you know that a piece of Jesus Christ’s cross is in Hungary?

A vineyard may hold the key

Francesca Romana Stasolla and her team uncovered an Iron Age (1200–586 BC) quarry beneath the 19th-century building. In the time of Jesus, the site had been used as a burial ground, and several rock-cut tombs were identified.

However, the most remarkable findings did not relate directly to the quarry itself but to later use of the area. Archaeological layers show that after quarrying ceased, the site was used for agricultural purposes. Low stone walls were erected, the spaces between them were filled with soil, and olive trees and vines were planted.