Israeli archaeologists open up storeroom to provide glimpse into life during Christ's time

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has opened up its storerooms containing artifacts that provide clues to what life was like during the time of Jesus Christ.

The vast warehouse was opened up to reporters on Sunday, ahead of the upcoming Christian holiday of Easter, which marks the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion.

Among the archaeological treasures from the first century A.D. discovered around Jerusalem and Galilee are vases, cooking utensils, a wine press, crucifixion nails, jewelry, and ossuaries, according to AFP.

Some of the ossuaries were inscribed with the name of Jesus, which archaeologists say was a common name in Israel 2,000 years ago. Around 30 ancient burial boxes were found inscribed with the same name.

The experts said that they have yet to find archaeological evidence that directly links to Jesus, but in recent years, they have discovered an array of materials that could help historians understand how Jesus may have lived or died.

Gideon Avni, head of the IAA's archaeology division, said that there are more than one million objects under the custody of the IAA, and there are about 40,000 new finds from about 300 archaeological sites each year.

"Nowadays we can restore in a very clear way the daily life during that period, from the moment of birth, through the person's life, his dining customs, where he travelled across the land, and until his day of death including his burial," said Avni.

"Over the past 20 years we have made a great leap in understanding the way of life of Jesus and his contemporaries. Every week new elements are discovered which allow a better understanding of this period," he added.

The IAA also exhibited a replica of a heel bone pierced by an iron nail with wood fragments on each end. The artifact, located in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, was found in a Jewish burial box in northern Jerusalem, dating back to the first century A.D. Up to this time, it is the only evidence of a victim of a Roman crucifixion buried according to Jewish custom.

The artifact has helped archaeologists in the reconstruction of the man's crucifixion, with his feet nailed to the sides of the cross. Avni expressed his belief that Jesus may have been crucified in the same way, which is different from the traditional depictions of crucifixion in art.

Avni said that there is no reason to doubt Jesus' existence just because archaeologists have not found any physical evidence of him.

"You have to remember that Christ was one among more than a million people living during this time in the Holy Land," he said.