{
  "id": 15797807,
  "title": "Archaeologists claim to identify site where Jesus was baptised",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/archaeologists-claim-to-identify-site-where-jesus-was-baptised",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T20:58:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/archaeologists-claim-to-identify-site-where-jesus-was-baptised/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Archaeologists from Jordan's Hashemite University claim to have identified the site where Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The site, located on the eastern bank of the River Jordan, about five miles north of the Dead Sea, has been the subject of debate among scholars for centuries. Professor Mohammad Waheeb based his findings on ruins excavated between 1996 and 2002, comparing them with accounts left by ancient travellers and pilgrims. The excavations revealed churches, baptismal pools, prayer halls, and water systems, suggesting that the area served as a centre for early Christian worship. The findings were published in the Egyptian Journal of Archaeological and Restoration Studies, and the location corresponds with historical accounts describing religious buildings and a monastery near the baptism site.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Archaeologists claim to identify site where Jesus was baptised",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/archaeologists-claim-to-identify-site-where-jesus-was-baptised-15799727",
        "published": "2026-10-20T21:10:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}