Page 59 - BV3

Archaeology and the Bible

Are These the Royal Tombs of the However, behind this modern burial crypt lies a much
Kings of Judah? older catacomb, one that was thought to date back to
the time of Christ.
Sarah Moore Indeed, throughout the ages, not much importance was
Review Staff Reporter
attached to this chamber. But a recent archaeological
survey has revealed that the burial cave actually dates
JERUSALEM, Israel -- Have we finally found the royal back to the time of the First Temple of Jerusalem built
tombs of the Kings of Judah, descendants of King by King Solomon.
David and the forefathers of Jesus Christ?
Moreover, some scholars now believe that this cata-
Inside the walled, Old City of Jerusalem, past as Arab comb may well be the final resting place of a dynasty
market place, stands the old Monastery of the Catholic which played a very significant roll in the Bible and
Dominican Fathers. It is also known as the Monastery were the royal ancestors of Jesus Christ.
of St. Stephen as it is believed to be the site of Ste-
phen's martyrdom.

The walls of this serene monastery also enclose the
world renowned Ecole Biblique, host to possibly the
most complete biblical library in the world.

Underneath the monastery, there is a flight of stairs
that leads 43 feet (13 meters) underneath to a burial
chapel. Some of the legendary figures of biblical
scholarship were buried here such as Felix M. Abel,
founder of the modern geographical study of the Holy
Land.

Inside the tomb, bones were found. Some of them
date to the time of King Solomon's Temple and
may well be those of the Kings of Judah.

Recently, the burial chamber was investigated by the
pre-eminent expert on First Temple period catacombs,
Prof. Gabriel Barkay, and his associate Dr. Amos
Kloner. Upon careful review of the site, they con-
cluded that the burial cave was actually at least 800
years older than had previously been thought.

"As we first entered the burial chamber," said Prof.
Barkay, "we became increasingly surprised to observe
with what care and exceptional skill this catacomb had
been carved." According to the archaeologist, this
tomb was clearly the final resting place of a very im-
portant and wealthy family.
The inside of the 7th century BC catacomb which
is believed to be the final resting place of the
Kings of Judah, the ancestors of Jesus Christ.

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