century AD Synagogue in Magdala
The discovery of a synagogue in the first century AD in Magdala, the birthplace of of the most controversial female figures and close to Jesus, Mary Magdalene, is the first opportunity for Mexican archaeologists carried out a project of biblical archeology in Israel. Considered the seventh-century and the first, so far, from the time Jesus lived around the Sea of \u200b\u200bGalilee, this synagogue was discovered in 2009 during excavation work in an area of \u200b\u200b8. 5 acres owned by the Legionaries of Christ, where he planned the construction of the Magdala Center, a venue to house the pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land.
Directed by Marcela Zapata, an archaeologist and academic from the Universidad Anahuac del Sur, and in agreement with the Institute of Anthropological Research (IIA) of the UNAM and the authorities of Israel, archaeological work in the area also called Lake Galilee began in June 2010.
It is "the last chance to understand the life of a people's century," said Marcela Zapata in an interview, because the peoples that existed on the shores of the lake, the main reservoir of fresh water in Israel, have been excavated or urbanized.
The excavation project, covering a total of three acres, was designed by Dr. Linda Manzanilla, an archaeologist at the Institute of Anthropological Research of UNAM, and continued, in a first stage, the archaeological prospecting method is to apply geophysical techniques to the study of the surface.
Luis Barba, coordinator of the Laboratory of Archaeological Survey of the Graduate Institute, explains that before the excavations were carried out a topographical survey, a a magnetic and electric surface, which helped locate the main structures. With this procedure it was possible to appreciate the shape and size of small rooms with floor to be clustered in groups around a large open courtyard.
In less than a year of starting the excavation work, involving volunteers from around the world have found pottery, glass, metal, stone, bone dice, some bronze bells and around 200 coins , which allows housing complex dating to the first century AD
These objects, Zapata said, will help to understand the context of the early Christian communities concentrated in that area, help to understand the transition between what was Judaism and Christianity, the coexistence of these two religions, as well as customs of the time.
With the unexpected discovery of this synagogue, considered a gift of God by the Legion-the Magdala Center project now seeks, in addition to building the house for pilgrims, the openness of the ruins of the ancient city of Magdala -including the synagogue, an international center for women, which will be investigated through the figure of Mary Magdalene, the role that women play in family and society, as well as the construction of a Pilgrims multimedia to present Jesus' public life "because, according to the gospels, most of Christ's life was spent in Galilee.
Marcela Zapata said that so far no archaeological evidence that Jesus visited the area of \u200b\u200bMagdala or specifically the synagogue: "On this aspect we have not discovered anything, we have the source of the gospels say that Jesus visited and walked through all the towns around the Sea of \u200b\u200bGalilee. Not specify the town of Magdala, but historically considered the most important people then. "
Zapata says that, besides the Gospels, there are other Jewish historical sources cited that the most important people of the time: "Jesus as a Jew should have walked through this area, but archaeologists do not have anything to give us a clue to say that here was."
regard archaeologist Luis Barba says that until now scientists have only solid data show that there was a group of people living in that space and time, but that "that identify a particular person is not possible."
"There is a limit to the interpretation of data and tells us that limit, so far, the people did exist, that it is the first century, the type of ceramic, glass and coins recovered from the excavation show Jews who did live there ".
Asked religious discourse that surrounds this project, Beard explained that although it is the collaboration of two institutions with different visions, one secular and one religious, the results will be objective and scientific rigor.
"Our work is rigorous, scientific and archaeological, we will not say anything more than the available archaeological data and I guess we can not avoid that on occasion some of the interpretations is considered to be Evidence of such a thing in relation to the biblical texts.
But not refer to biblical texts is inevitable because it is Marcela Zapata of a project that is located in the historical and religious context.
And one of the great challenges of the archaeologists involved in the excavations at the sites were developed under which the biblical stories with scientific rigor to demonstrate the results of their research and theories to overcome the adventurers and amateur groups archaeological fundamentalists organize campaigns with the intention of seeking evidence to enable them to demonstrate that the Bible is right and that their stories must be understood as historical.
Nomiresatras
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