Jerusalem: Archaeological excavations continue at Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Archaeologists are conducting extensive excavations and restoration work at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City. The site is considered one of Christianity's most significant sanctuaries, as tradition holds it to be the location of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Following an agreement between the various Christian denominations that share the site—which had previously hindered renovations due to concerns over influence and rights—a major restoration project has been underway since 2016. This marks the first significant work at the site in over 200 years.

Recent excavations, which expanded from a 2022 floor renovation project, have uncovered an abandoned quarry, agricultural lands, and a garden beneath the 4th-century structure. These findings are part of an ongoing effort to study the historical layers of the site, which has undergone numerous destructions and reconstructions since its initial consecration in 335 AD.