New Research Says Tomb of Jesus Christ Nearly 1 700 Years Old

New Research Says Tomb of Jesus Christ Nearly 1 700 Years Old

New Research Says Tomb of Jesus Christ Nearly 1,700 Years Old

Age of Jesus' Presumed Tomb Revealed

Tests show it s a lot older than previously thought

PHOTO BY ODED BALILTY, AP FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Romans built a monument at the presumed tomb during the Constantine era. ’s presumed tomb is nearly 1,700 years old, or much older than previously believed, new research has found. In the past, evidence dated the tomb back only 1,000 years, to the Crusader period. The results of tests provided exclusively to National Geographic are compelling in that they support the traditional belief that the ancient Romans discovered the tomb and enshrined it in A.D. 326. This was the time of Constantine, the first Roman emperor to officially convert to Christianity, who reigned in the fourth century. According to the , Jesus died either in A.D. 30 or 33. “Obviously that date [A.D. 326] is spot-on for whatever Constantine did,” archeologist Martin Biddle, author of The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, told National Geographic. “That’s very remarkable.” Although the testing performed by the National Technical University of Athens is consistent with the belief that Romans built a monument at the presumed tomb during Constantine’s era, what it can’t do is offer proof that Jesus was actually laid to rest there. Even so, many Christians have long believed that the limestone cave enshrined in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in contains the remains of the tomb where Jesus was crucified and buried. Today, the church — located in the Old City — is a site of pilgrimage for Christians, with thousands flocking there weekly. This part of Jerusalem is split into four quarters: Christian, Jewish, Armenian and Muslim. The tomb was opened for the first time in centuries in October 2016, when a significant restoration was undertaken by the National Technical University of Athens. During the project, samples of mortar were collected for the purpose of dating them. The results of these tests are what have been provided to National Geographic. Learn more about the findings by watching The Secrets of Christ’s Tomb, which premieres Sunday, Dec. 3, on the National Geographic Channel. In addition, the National Geographic exhibition “Tomb of Christ: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre Experience” opened Nov. 15 at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. and is on display through the fall of 2018.

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