Overview

• Excavations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem have revealed olive tree and grapevine remains dating back roughly 2,000 years.
• The findings align with the Gospel of John, which describes a garden near the site of Jesus' crucifixion and burial.
• The site, initially a quarry, was later transformed into a cultivated area and eventually became a Christian pilgrimage location.
• Marble tombs, possibly linked to Joseph of Arimathea, have also been discovered, with radiocarbon dating and geological analysis underway to confirm their origins.
• This excavation, part of a restoration project begun in 2022, is the first major archaeological effort at the site in nearly two centuries.