{"id":126,"date":"2018-06-07T14:49:37","date_gmt":"2018-06-07T18:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/?p=126"},"modified":"2022-03-28T11:18:19","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T15:18:19","slug":"jesus-died-rare-evidence-2000-year-old-crucifixion-found","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/2018\/06\/jesus-died-rare-evidence-2000-year-old-crucifixion-found.html","title":{"rendered":"Is This How Jesus Died? Rare Evidence of 2000-Year-Old Crucifixion Found"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jesus Christ died on a Roman cross as recorded in the four Gospels \u2013 Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. A recent archaeological discovery is providing more evidence that Jesus indeed died more than 2,000 years ago.<\/p>\n

A new study of the skeletal remains of a man buried in northern Italy 2,000 years ago reveals a lesion and unhealed fracture on one of the heel bones which suggests that his feet had been nailed to a wooden cross. This same method was used for the execution of Jesus described in the Bible.<\/p>\n

While crucifixion was a common form of capital punishment for both slaves and criminals in ancient Rome, the new discovery is only the second time that direct archaeological evidence of it has been found. While the Bible, as well as other historical writing has referenced the punishment, we now have archaeological proof!<\/p>\n

The skeleton was originally uncovered during a 2006-2007 dig in northern Italy\u2019s Gavello municipality. The man was found lying on his back, \u201cwith the upper limbs at his side and the lower limbs outstretched.\u201d<\/p>\n

The researchers ran genetic and biological tests on the remains and found that they were from a man below-average height and slim nature. He was likely between 30 and 34 years old when he died.<\/p>\n

What was strange about the finding for a Roman-era burial is that the man was buried directly in the ground and without grave goods. The lack of grave goods and the dead man\u2019s small build suggested he may have been an underfed slave who was buried without the regular Roman funeral ceremonies. After closer examination of the bones more recently, researchers noticed \u201cparticular lesions\u201d on the right heal.<\/p>\n

The researchers believe \u201cthe upper limbs were fixed to the cross by nails through the wrist, as per ancient historical sources.\u201d They also think the heel may have been nailed to a hard surface prior to the death of the victim.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the specific case, despite the poorly preserved conditions, we could demonstrate the presence of signs on the skeleton that indicate a violence similar to crucifixion,\u201d co-author Emanuel Gualdi from the University of Ferrara told Italian paper Estense.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe importance of the discovery lies in the fact that it is the second case documented in the world,\u201d co-author Ursula Thun Hohenstein said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough this brutal type of execution has been perfected and practiced for a long time by the Romans, the difficulties in preserving damaged bones, and, subsequently, in interpreting traumas, hinder the recognition of crucifixion victims, making this testimony even more precious,\u201d Thun Hohenstein said.<\/p>\n