Discoveries shed new light on time of Christ

THE Israel Antiquities Authority yesterday offered a rare glimpse into its storerooms, where staff said recent archaeological discoveries had cast new light on life at the time of Christ.

The event was organised ahead of the upcoming Easter holiday.

Among first century AD finds are vases, cooking utensils, a wine press, nails used in crucifixions and ossuaries.

“Over the past 20 years we have made a great leap in understanding the way of life of Jesus and his contemporaries,” the authority’s archaeology division head Gideon Avni said.