In a monumental moment for Christians and history buffs everywhere, archaeologists unearthed compelling evidence that supports the Gospel of John’s account of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and burial at a site beneath Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which has long been thought of as the most likely site of Christ’s death and resurrection.
For context, a team of archaeologists led by Professor Francesca Romana Stasolla of Sapienza University of Rome announced in March 2025 that they had discovered the remains of 2,000-year-old olive trees and grapevines, including seeds and pollen, underneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Based on these findings, Professor Stasolla’s team is confident that the site was once the area between Calvary — the site of Jesus’ crucifixion — and the tomb where he was buried.
According to coverage from Archaeology News Online Magazine, Professor Stasolla and her team backed up their discovery’s alignment with Scripture using John 19:41: “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb.” Commenting on the location, Professor Stasolla said, “The Gospel mentions a green area between the Calvary and the tomb, and we identified these cultivated fields.”
In addition, Professor Stasolla told The Times of Israel more about the basis for the dig, explaining that her team would have to find evidence buried under multiple eras of history. She explained, “We know that the area was already part of the city at the time of Emperor Hadrian when the Romans built Aelia Capitolina.” She added, “However, at the time of Jesus, the area was not part of the city yet.”
Furthermore, Professor Stasolla explained that her team of researchers also uncovered Marble Tombs within the dig site, telling the press that her team was “conducting geological analysis to verify the origin of the marble, and we are also testing the mortar.” She added, “Both tests can give us important information.”
Additionally, the professor confirmed that her team of researchers also found the remains of several types of animals, including “several shells of terrestrial snail that belonged to a species eaten to this day.” Professor Stassola explained that these shells could paint a clearer picture of what the earliest Christians ate, saying, “This species originated here and spread around the Mediterranean after the Crusades.”
At the conclusion of her interview with The Times of Israel, Professor Stasolla said that she believed that her team’s discovery had significance for believers and non-believers alike. She said, “The real treasure we are revealing is the history of the people who made this site what it is by expressing their faith here.”
In a weighty final statement, the professor then added, “Whether someone believes or not in the historicity of the Holy Sepulchre, the fact that generations of people did is objective. The history of this place is the history of Jerusalem, and at least from a certain moment, it is the history of the worship of Jesus Christ.”
Watch apologist David Wood’s explanation of the discoveries:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video