Archaeologists uncover ancient garden at Church of the Holy Sepulchre, aligning with biblical accounts

Archaeologists working at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem have uncovered evidence of an ancient garden, aligning with biblical accounts . The excavation has revealed seeds and pollen from olive trees and grapevines, potentially dating back around 2,000 years.

The discovery supports a passage in the New Testament, John 19:41, which states, "Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid."

Francesca Stasolla , an archaeology professor at the Sapienza University of Rome, confirmed the findings and emphasized their significance in an interview with Fox News Digital. She explained that the organic material was discovered in layers from a time when the site transitioned from a quarry to a funerary location.

"The quarry had to be gradually abandoned and as the stone extraction ended it was used for agricultural areas and tombs," Stasolla said. "This must have been what it looked like in the 1st century AD"

Excavations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre mark the first major restoration project at the revered Christian site in nearly two centuries. The work is taking place in areas shared by different religious communities .

The site itself has a long and complex history. Originally built in 326 AD, the church was destroyed in 1009 AD under the orders of Islamic ruler al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. It was later reconstructed by Christian Crusaders in the 12th century.

"The current church is that of the Crusader reconstruction, but the whole church is a composition of historical phases from the fourth century to the modern age," Stasolla explained.

The area’s religious and historical importance is evident in the many artifacts found during the excavation. Objects dating as far back as the Iron Age, including ceramics, metal, and glass, offer evidence of the site's long history as a place of worship.

"Ceramics, metals, glass… [all] document both the occupation of the area and the presence of believers and pilgrims," Stasolla noted, adding that the goal of the excavation is to deepen understanding of the region’s religious significance.

When asked whether the recent findings reinforce the biblical reference to a garden at the site of Christ’s crucifixion, Stasolla acknowledged the connection while clarifying the role of archaeology.

"Archaeology provides us with data that must then be historicized and interpreted," she said. "In this case, it documents an agricultural use of the quarry… [the Bible quote] is certainly suggestive [of this]."

The excavation remains ongoing, and according to Stasolla, more discoveries are expected. "It is certainly a strategic excavation for the knowledge of the development of the city and its process of sacralization in a Christian key," she said.