Bible Archeology Discoveries

Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Discovered: Jerusalem
From: (c. AD 330)

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There are three tombs in Jerusalem that have been purported to be the final resting place of Jesus. The one that appears to have the most evidence is the tomb within the "edicule" (shrine) within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Archeologists have determined that the area was a cemetery in the first century that was in a limestone quarry with gardens in the area.

Eusebius reports that the Romans built a pagan temple over the area in the second century. Later, Helena, the mother of Constantine (the first Christian emperor), removed the edifice and dug down to the tomb and led the construction of the church.

Recent archeological work has removed the stone from the tomb opening and revealed the limestone bed on which a body would be laid.

"And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up.
And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed."
Matthew 27 57-60

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Notable Finds

Much of what is described in Bible text is lost to history, requiring readers to assume the historicity of the scriptures.

However, many of the places and events described in the Old and New Testaments are periodically corroborated by archeological finds.

Some finds simply help us to better understand things from the ancient world. However, others provide important evidence as to the truth of scripture regarding things about which there had previously been skepticism.

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