New Findings in the John the Baptist Cave

photo © 2006 Netscape

Back in 2004, archaeologists discovered a cave they believe John the Baptist used for anointing his disciples.

A couple of years down the road, and they think they have some new information on the cave, known as the Suba Cave.

The cave includes a huge cistern with 28 steps that lead to an underground pool of water. Some 250,000 pottery shards were also found and are presumed to be remnants of small water jugs used in the Christian baptismal ritual performed by the fiery New Testament preacher. Wall carvings etched into the cave tell John's life story; they were likely made by monks in the fourth or fifth century. In addition, a stone was found in the cave that researchers believe was used for ceremonial foot washing.

This may be, but there were many places all over Israel where people could perform Mikveh - the Jewish ceremony that is the foundation for the Christian rite of Baptism. Plus, as the New Testament records, John the Baptist (in Hebrew, "the Immerser") wasn't afraid to hold his Mikvehs out in the open - as in the Gospel recording of Jesus' baptism.

But I digress...

Led by University of North Carolina at Charlotte archaeologist James D. Tabor, the team believes the site dates to the time of the prophet Isaiah in the 7th century B.C. and may include a second, still unexcavated cave. In early 2006, the team uncovered an outside corridor leading to what appears to be another cave. The corridor was filled with deposits that date to the Iron Age--within 100 years of the site's original construction--and leads directly into the steep hillside. Tabor says it now looks as if this is some huge complex.

All in all, it is a quick read and very interesting - if you like Biblical Archaeology - even if it contains one of the worst "no kidding" endings in the history of articles:

Tabor speculates that if John the Baptist did use this cave for baptisms, he may have chosen it because it has some kind of special significance to him and his followers.

Wow. No kidding?

Tags: Bible , Archaeology