Posted on 06/05/2018 12:28:31 PM PDT by Red Badger
The body of a man buried in northern Italy 2,000 years ago shows signs that he died after being nailed to a wooden cross, the method used for the execution of Jesus described in the Christian Bible.
Although crucifixion was a common form of capital punishment for criminals and slaves in ancient Roman times, the new finding is only the second time that direct archaeological evidence of it has been found.
A new study of the skeletal remains of the man, found near Venice in 2007, reveals a lesion and unhealed fracture on one of the heel bones that suggests his feet had been nailed to a cross.
The researchers from the universities of Ferrara and Florence in Italy say their findings aren't conclusive because of the poor condition of the bones and because the other heel bone is missing.
Nor have they found evidence that the body was nailed up by the wrists, the common method of Roman crucifixion described in the Bible as used in the execution of Jesus. Ancient burial
The skeletal remains were found at Gavello, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Venice, during archaeological excavations in preparation for the laying of a pipeline, the researchers said in their study, published online April 12 in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences.
Unusually for a Roman-era burial, the body had been buried directly in the ground, instead of being placed in a tomb, and without any burial goods, the researchers said.
The researchers ran genetic and biological tests on the remains, finding that they were from a man of below-average height and slim stature who was between 30 and 34 years old when he died.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
PinGGG!.....................
Bump!
I don't think so.
THEY FOUND SPARTACUS!(OR AT LEAST 1 OF 6000 CLAIMING TO BE HIM)/s
“The researchers ran genetic and biological tests on the remains...”
Then next-of-kin were notified.
It is surprising that, as often as crucifixion was used, that this is only the second body found with direct evidence.
I find it hard to believe that Roman-era burials of executed criminals would not have been directly in or on the ground. in fact, doesn't the Bible make specific reference to Jesus' friend and relatives removing his body from the cross themselves, and taking him to a tomb?
I doubt the Romans would have even taken a person down from a cross in the first place, never mind putting their body in a tomb with "burial goods.
No, not unless he was in Italy..............
I think most of the time the Romans just hung the victim there with rope. It takes much longer to die that way. Which underscores the point the Romans were trying to make. Then the birds and the carrion eaters do the rest.
Many bodies were left to rot and be devoured by animals......................
There have been history/ science shows that have presented Israeli ostuary bones, that were impaled with nails suggesting crucifixion.
Often criminals bodies were not removed from the cross but left to rot and be devoured by animals.
In Jerusalem, had Jesus body not been claimed by Nicodemus and Joseph of Aramithea and buried in a prepared tomb, the body would have been left on the cross or removed and thrown into the city garbage dump......................
The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus (who they think was Michael the Archangel) was killed on an “execution stake.” They say the cross is a made up idea, and treat it as an idol. They say the word “cross” was added to later biblical manuscripts.
If memory serves me, I’ve seen a cross (two cross-members) from an archaeological dig.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus (who they think was Michael the Archangel) was killed on an “execution stake.” They say the cross is a made up idea, and treat it as an idol. They say the word “cross” was added to later biblical manuscripts.
If memory serves me, I’ve seen a cross (two cross-members) from an archaeological dig.
Approximately 108 billion humans have lived on earth ever since homo sapiens first came into existence, about 52,000 years ago.
Makes identification very difficult;)
They would, if only to recover the nails.
Any burial would have been done by family and/or friends, assuming they were able to recover the body.
IMHO.
Thrown on the city garbage dump. A good place for Islamist terrorists in modern times. Like the b’stards In Orlando and San Bernardino and elsewhere
Not all crucifixions were on crosses. Many were just poles and the arms of the condemned were above the head and nailed.......
Exactly. This is, I suspect, why so few intact bodies of crucifixion victims from that era have been discovered.
I think you are correct. Nails were in very short supply. They were used over and over.
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