AP: Group Discovers John the Baptist Cave
KIBBUTZ TZUBA, Israel (AP) - Archaeologists said Monday they have found a cave where they believe John the Baptist anointed many of his disciples - a huge cistern with 28 steps leading to an underground pool of water.
During an exclusive tour of the cave by The Associated Press, archaeologists presented wall carvings they said tell the story of the fiery New Testament preacher, as well as a stone they believe was used for ceremonial foot washing.
They also pulled about 250,000 pottery shards from the cave, the apparent remnants of small water jugs used in baptismal ritual.
``John the Baptist, who was just a figure from the Gospels, now comes to life,'' said British archaeologist Shimon Gibson, who supervised the dig outside Jerusalem.
However, others said there was no proof that John the Baptist ever set foot in the cave, about 2 1/2 miles from Ein Kerem, the preacher's hometown and now part of Jerusalem.
``Unfortunately, we didn't find any inscriptions,'' said James Tabor, a religious studies professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Tabor and his students have participated in the excavations.
Both Tabor and Gibson said it was very likely that the wall carvings, including one showing a man with a staff and wearing animal skin, told the story of John the Baptist. The carvings stem from the Byzantine period and apparently were made by monks in the fourth or fifth century.
Gibson said he believed the monks commemorated John at a site linked to him by local tradition.
RE: John the Baptist Cave found
Hello Kim,
Yes, I heard about this discovery today. How exciting! I was always convinced of the historical nature of Christianity, and it is proved every now and again.
I hope that the cave is kept as a spiritual shrine, and doesn't fall victim to someone's greed.
Love,
Patsy.
🙂
RE: John the Baptist Cave found
Dear Kim, That is truly wonderfull news, very interesting, Thanks for sharing.
RE: John the Baptist Cave found
When I read this I thought wow. However closer study of the opinions of some experts made me wonder if this was yet another money/donation seeking hype.
For example Steven Ortiz, director of the Center for Archaeological Research at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, believes the site to have been established by Byzantine Christians due to the fact that John the Baptist was born in Ein Kerem only two and a half miles away, and used for pilgrimage.
“It is extremely improbable that this site is where John baptized many of his followers,” Ortiz said. “All the Gospel accounts place his ministry in the Jordan Valley. “The more likely site is somewhere in the Judean wilderness alongside the Jordan River.
Facts supporting this theory are that there are no inscriptions tying the site to John, and the the cave includes Byzantine-era wall carvings depicting a man resembling the biblical description of John the Baptist; a cross; and what appears to be a severed head.
What is clear is that the site was used for ritual baptism as early as 800 B.C. with 250,000 pottery shards possibly being the remains of jugs used in baptism rituals.
Leo
RE: John the Baptist Cave found
sounds good to me
being love
Kim xx
RE: John the Baptist Cave found
Hi All, Been having a look and though put a picture on........ im not quite shore if it is or not.
It would be nice if something was written, that prove without dount for a change.
love and blessings
lightwinds xx
Wendy
RE: John the Baptist Cave found
blessing lightwinds xx The pictures are from news articals.
RE: John the Baptist Cave found
why do all the posts on here say edited by Leonardo when it is clear they have not been touched?
Kim xx
RE: John the Baptist Cave found
Leo noticed that the post had accidentally been called John the Baptit cave found, instead of Baptist, so went in and edited it. Should have noticed this myself, buit it snuck in when I wasn't looking!
June