Archaeologists Make Mind-Blowing Discovery Inside Jesus’ Tomb

In Jerusalem, archaeologists excavate a tomb believed to be the resting place of Jesus Christ. Cutting through stone, the experts expose a cavity filled with dust and debris. Then, after they clear away centuries of grime, the group prise open the crypt. The crowd lay eyes on a groundbreaking discovery – and they react with glee.

First to lay eyes

Among the first people to look inside were representatives from the Roman Catholic, Armenian, and Greek Orthodox Churches. And they weren’t left disappointed. According to the National Geographic archaeologist Fredrick Hiebert – who contributed to the excavation work – these folks left the site with big grins.

What’s at stake

Given no one had opened Jesus’ tomb for centuries, it’s no wonder the group were happy to be a part of this huge event. But what was at stake here? Well, the project was designed and executed by a team of scientists from the National Technical University of Athens. The excavation took place in October 2016 and was part of an effort to restore the site’s Edicule – the chapel-like structure that encloses the tomb.

Built and rebuilt

Of course, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has a very long history. It has been damaged, destroyed, and reconstructed over the centuries, too. And while all this activity has led scholars to doubt the authenticity of the site, the team has discovered firm evidence that resolves the debate once and for all. Is this really the location of Christ’s burial place?

Separating fact from fiction

The excavation certainly falls under the realm of “biblical archaeology” – a field that aims to find the historical truth of events written about in the Bible. Because the oldest known copies of the gospels were written approximately 100 years after the death of Christ, the accounts themselves can’t be considered historically reliable. And this is important when considering Christ’s tomb.