Archaeologists excavating beneath Jesus’ tomb in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre have uncovered a 2,000-year-old garden that aligns with Gospel descriptions, offering striking evidence of the biblical burial site and leaving both scientists and believers awed and deeply reflective.

In a breakthrough that has reverberated through both scientific and religious communities, archaeologists working beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City have uncovered compelling evidence of an ancient garden dating back roughly 2,000 years — a discovery that appears to match descriptions of the burial site of Jesus Christ as written in the Gospel of John.

The findings, part of a major excavation and restoration project underway at one of Christianity’s holiest locations, have left experts and believers alike both astonished and deeply reflective about the connection between scripture and archaeology.

The excavation, which began in 2022 during extensive renovation work at the Church — the site traditionally believed to contain Jesus’ tomb — has revealed clearly layered soil deposits and botanical remnants beneath the church’s ancient floor, including pollen and root traces from olive trees and grapevines likely cultivated in antiquity.

These plant remains indicate that the ground here was once used for agriculture, strongly aligning with the Gospel account stating, “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. ”

“We have evidence not just of ordinary soil, but the very kinds of plants that would have made up a cultivated garden in the first century,” said Professor Francesca Romana Stasolla, one of the lead archaeologists from Sapienza University of Rome, in a statement about the excavation.

The team conducted archaeobotanical analyses that identified the ancient plant species, offering a rare glimpse into the landscape and environment at the time of Jesus’ death and burial.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre itself stands on a site believed by many to encompass both Golgotha — the location of the Crucifixion — and the nearby burial tomb where Jesus was laid to rest before rising again, according to Christian tradition.

For centuries, pilgrims have visited the church’s Edicule, the small shrine built over what is venerated as the Tomb of Christ.

Although previous restoration and investigation work has occasionally unearthed fragments of the tomb and related relics, this is the first time that archaeologists have uncovered such extensive environmental evidence supporting the existence of a garden at this sacred location.

The context of the excavation is itself a remarkable story of cooperation and historical preservation.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is jointly managed by several Christian denominations — including the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic Custody of the Holy Land, and the Armenian Patriarchate — and all custodial authorities agreed to allow scientists to work beneath the sanctified floors as part of a broader mission to both restore the aging structure and better understand its earliest origins.

This collaboration has made possible the uncovering of layers of history that had been buried for millennia.

Archaeologists found that beneath the current pavement and stone slabs lies a sequence of deposits reflecting the complex evolution of the site: from an ancient quarry where limestone was extracted, to a cultivated orchard with olive and grape cultivation, and finally to its later use as a burial ground.

Researchers also documented the presence of Iron Age artifacts, pottery fragments, and soil layers that help date the transformation of the landscape.

These findings not only enrich our understanding of the physical environment of early first‑century Jerusalem but also offer tangible parallels to the textual descriptions preserved in early Christian writings.

For many religious believers, the garden discovery represents more than an archaeological curiosity — it is seen as physical evidence that supports the Gospel narrative.

“The Gospel mentions a green area between Golgotha and the tomb,” Professor Stasolla explained, “and we identified these cultivated fields exactly where the scriptures describe them.”

Yet scholars emphasize caution in interpretation; while the presence of ancient plant remains and a garden‑like environment is striking, it does not alone confirm that this specific site is unquestionably the precise historical tomb of Jesus.

Archaeology can demonstrate historical plausibility, but definitive proof of events from two millennia ago — especially those involving religious belief — remains deeply complex and multidisciplinary.

Still, the implications of this discovery are vast.

For theologians, it presents a fascinating case where scriptural text and material culture intersect.

For historians and archaeologists, it offers rare insight into burial practices, landscaping, and daily life in early Roman‑era Jerusalem.

And for pilgrims and ordinary believers, it adds a new layer of meaning to a site that has drawn devotion — and debate — for centuries.

As the excavation continues and researchers prepare to publish more detailed findings, the world watches with anticipation.

Whether viewed through the lens of faith or scientific inquiry, the discovery of this ancient garden beneath Jesus’ tomb site invites renewed questions about history, belief, and the stories we tell about the past.