Archaeologist Says House In Nazareth Could Have Been Jesus' Childhood Home

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/05/jesus-childhood-home-nazareth-archaeologist_n_6809482.html

By Katie Sola

Posted: 03/05/2015 4:32 pm EST Updated: 03/05/2015 4:59 pm EST



A British archaeologist says a first-century dwelling found beneath a convent in Nazareth, Israel, could have been Jesus' childhood home.

Dr. Ken Dark of the University of Reading and the Nazareth Archaeological Project argues that although the evidence can't prove Jesus grew up in the house, it does suggest it's possible.

According to the Bible, Jesus grew up in Nazareth, before leaving his hometown to wander and perform miracles. Later, he traveled back to preach, then survived an attempt by the townspeople to throw him off a cliff. Nazareth is now a predominantly Arab city of about 60,000 people, the majority of them Muslim.

Dark and his group began excavating beneath the Sisters of Nazareth convent in 2006, according to Biblical Archaeology. He then discovered what is said to be a first-century courtyard house, complete with doors and windows, partially carved out of the living rock.

more at link

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Just a few small problems.

Prof. Dark proposes a complex and unusual history for the Sisters of Nazareth site. It is possible to examine his proposal in detail, and to show that its various elements do not correspond to the material evidence. In fact, such a procedure comprises the bulk of this article. Before we embark on the more detailed approach, however, I would like to survey the more general issue at hand, and to do so proceeding from a consideration of traditional claims. For the Christian, Nazareth existed at the turn of the era. It was a settlement worthy of a name, of a synagogue, and of a “crowd” (Lk 4:16-30). It was situated on “the brow” of a hill and possessed a steep cliff. All of these particulars have recently been increasingly invalidated by archaeology and historical research. However, the traditionalist has not abandoned them and still cleaves to the hope that—at least in essence—the word of scripture will be salvaged. Perhaps the settlement received its name only later. Perhaps “synagogue” meant “house assembly.” Perhaps the polis
(Mt 2:23; Lk 1:26; 2:4, 39) was only an insignificant village. Perhaps the crowd which intended to cast Jesus down was as few as six or seven people. Perhaps the cliff was simply a steep place. These reduced parameters could satisfy the gospel narratives while allowing for literary license.


One element, however, is not negotiable. Absolutely required by the tradition is proof of habitation at the turn of the era. After all, a settlement—of any size—requires people and, over time, people produce evidence of their presence. Archaeology studies such evidence, and its absence from Nazareth at the time of Jesus has proven rather damning to those who have presumed a settlement there at the turn of the era. Despite the common saying “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence,” absence of evidence in archaeology does, in fact, speak volumes. Evidence of human presence in the Nazareth basin dating to “the time of Jesus” has been surprisingly evasive, despite a century of archaeological excavation. Additionally, digging has vexingly revealed that the hillside upon which the Venerated Area is located contains a plethora of Roman-era tombs. It is well known that tombs were not located inside a Jewish village. Their presence—in the Venerated Area itself—signals that the destination of untold numbers of Christian pilgrims was long ago outside the village proper. The Church of the Annunciation—under which are at least three Roman-era tombs (Salm 2008a:240)—could have been neither the home of the Virgin Mary nor the venue of the Annunciation.

http://www.academia.edu/7756858/A_Critique_of_Ken_Darks_Work_at_the_Sisters_of_Nazareth_Convent

[edhopper]

2. I have discovered the bridge

Last edited Fri Mar 6, 2015, 03:52 PM - Edit history (1)

Jesus used to walk on water.

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[Cartoonist]

3. New evidence suggests

that it was actually Joe the Nazarene plumber's house. It. Was that J on the wall that threw them off.