# Archaeological excavations at Church of the Holy Sepulchre > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/archaeological-excavations-at-church-of-the-holy-sepulchre > Updated: 2026-10-27T08:44:43.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Archaeological work and restoration efforts are ongoing at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Following a long-standing agreement between various Christian denominations, a major restoration project—the first of its kind in over 200 years—has been underway since 2016. Recent excavations have uncovered an abandoned quarry, agricultural lands, and a garden beneath the 4th-century structure. In a specific discovery, archaeologists working beneath the church unearthed a 20-foot-wide circular marble monument surrounding the burial chamber traditionally identified as the tomb of Jesus Christ. Researchers noted that the rock around the chamber had been intentionally cut away to isolate it. This find is described as the earliest archaeologically documented monument built around the tomb, with some evidence suggesting the marble may have been part of restoration efforts following the Persian Sassanid invasion of Jerusalem in 614 AD. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-27: Jerusalem: Archaeological excavations continue at Church of the Holy Sepulchre Archaeologists are conducting major excavations and restorations at Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, uncovering ancient quarries and gardens beneath the historic site. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jerusalem-archaeological-excavations-continue-at-church-of-the-holy-sepulchre ### 2026-10-17: Archaeologists find ancient marble monument at Jesus' traditional tomb Archaeologists in Jerusalem have discovered a 20-foot-wide ancient marble monument surrounding the burial chamber in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed to be the tomb of Jesus. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/archaeologists-find-ancient-marble-monument-at-jesus-traditional-tomb --- Cite as: Archaeological excavations at Church of the Holy Sepulchre. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/archaeological-excavations-at-church-of-the-holy-sepulchre