Archaeologists say John the Baptist might have used Israeli cave

Published: 2004-08-17

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Archaeologists believe a cave they uncovered in the Judean Hills south of Jerusalem may have been the cave used by St. John the Baptist, The Associated Press reported. Although some scholars dispute the claim, the archaeologists say it is at least the oldest baptismal site yet discovered. "The site we've uncovered is seemingly the connecting link between Jewish and Christian baptism," British archaeologist Shimon Gibson was quoted as saying in the Israeli Ha'aretz newspaper Aug. 17. Gibson is the director of the private Jerusalem Archaeological Field Unit and supervises the dig. The University of North Carolina, Charlotte, helped sponsor the dig. Though the cave houses a huge water cistern decorated with Byzantine-era wall carvings that the excavation's archaeologists believe depict John the Baptist and others, some archaeologists say there is no actual proof John the Baptist ever used the cave, said Ha'aretz. The carvings include the image of what the archaeological dig team says is John the Baptist and a cross-shaped carving, reported Ha'aretz.

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