1st Century Town Discovered in Israel

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Worthy News)– The construction of a resort in Galilee for Christian pilgrims may have inadvertently uncovered the hometown of the biblical Mary Magdalene.

Four plots for the resort were purchased on the shore of the Sea of Galilee near Migdal — an Israeli town that was named for the village of Magdala where Mary Magdalene’s family may have lived. But as a mandatory salvage dig began, a stone bench — part of the remains of a synagogue dating from the first century — was found only one foot under the surface. A coin from the year A.D. 29 was also discovered, suggesting that perhaps Jesus Himself may have taught there, in accordance with Matthew’s gospel.

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease” — Matt. 4:23 (NIV).

It later became apparent that the construction site was not just near Magdala, it was right on top of it! The dig went on to unearth an ancient marketplace with pools that may have been used to process the salted fish the town was known for. Also uncovered were ancient fish hooks and part of a first-century harbor.