Archaeologists Unearth Evidence of an Ancient Garden Beneath Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre

JERUSALEM — Archaeologists working beneath one of Christianity’s most sacred sites have uncovered evidence of a cultivated garden dating back roughly 2,000 years, a finding that may lend historical context to biblical descriptions of the area traditionally associated with the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.

The discovery was made during an ongoing excavation beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City, led by Professor Francesca Romana Stasolla of Sapienza University of Rome. The project, which began in 2022, is part of a long-delayed renovation of the church’s 19th-century floor, undertaken after decades of negotiations among the site’s three principal custodians: the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the Custody of the Holy Land (Roman Catholic), and the Armenian Patriarchate.

With authorization from the Israel Antiquities Authority, researchers have been able to examine layers of soil beneath the structure, revealing traces of olive and grape cultivation through archaeobotanical and pollen analyses. According to Stasolla, the remains point to agricultural activity predating the early Christian era.

“What we have identified are cultivated plots, supported by low stone walls likely used to retain soil,” she said in an interview with The Times of Israel in March 2025. “This aligns in a compelling way with the description in the Gospel of John, which refers to a garden located between Calvary and the tomb.”

The Gospel of John (19:41) notes: “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid.” While the archaeological findings cannot confirm the events described in scripture, scholars say they offer a plausible environmental backdrop for the narrative.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has long been venerated by many Christians as encompassing both Golgotha — the site of the crucifixion — and the tomb of Jesus, believed to have been hewn into rock. The first church on the site was commissioned in the 4th century by Emperor Constantine, the first Roman ruler to embrace Christianity. Prior to that, the area had functioned as a quarry during the Iron Age before being repurposed as a burial ground.

In addition to botanical evidence, the excavation has yielded a number of artifacts from the early centuries of Christianity. Among them is a circular marble base located beneath the aedicule — the small shrine enclosing the traditional tomb — which researchers believe may be part of Constantine’s early monumentalization of the site.

Coins dating to the reigns of Emperor Constantius II (337–361 A.D.) and Valens (364–378 A.D.) were also recovered, along with hundreds of animal bones bearing signs of butchery. These remains are thought to reflect the presence of pilgrims and clergy who frequented the site over centuries.

Further analysis, including radiocarbon testing of plant remains, is expected to take several years.

For Stasolla and her team, the significance of the discovery extends beyond any single historical claim. “The true treasure we are uncovering is the history of the people who shaped this place through their expressions of faith,” she said.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has endured repeated cycles of destruction and restoration, including damage during conflicts in the 7th and 11th centuries. Much of its present structure dates to the Crusader period in the 12th century.

The findings, first reported by The Times of Israel in 2025 and later highlighted by publications such as Popular Mechanics in 2026, have drawn attention from both religious and secular scholars. Many see the excavation as an important contribution to understanding the layered history of one of the world’s most contested and revered religious sites.

At the same time, experts caution that archaeology has its limits. While it can illuminate historical context, it cannot serve as definitive proof of religious events or beliefs. []