{
  "id": 15799727,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T21:10:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/archaeologists-claim-to-identify-site-where-jesus-was-baptised/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Archaeologists have identified a site near the River Jordan in Jordan, where they believe Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptist. The discovery was made after excavations spanning over six years at Bethany beyond the Jordan, located about five miles north of the Dead Sea. Professor Mohammad Waheeb of Jordan’s Hashemite University reached this conclusion by comparing ruins excavated between 1996 and 2002 with accounts from ancient travellers and pilgrims, as published in the Egyptian Journal of Archaeological and Restoration Studies. Waheeb's findings, which include churches, baptismal pools, prayer halls, and water systems, suggest the area served as a hub for early Christian worship. Two historical accounts from the 4th and 6th centuries, penned by travellers who visited the region, provide additional support for Waheeb's claim. The distance between the now-exposed site and the Jordan's flow into the Dead Sea aligns with the geographical links provided in ancient texts. Waheeb also cited the Madaba Mosaic Map, a 6th-century depiction of biblical sites, which labels the two regions distinctly, further strengthening his argument. The excavations revealed remnants from the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods, indicating continuous habitation during the time of John the Baptist and Jesus. Changes in the river's course over the centuries may explain why some structures now appear on dry ground. The study concludes that the evidence aligns with ancient pilgrim accounts, the Madaba map, and biblical texts, affirming the location as the site of Jesus' baptism.",
  "summary": "Archaeologists in Jordan claim to have identified the site where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, based on excavations at Bethany beyond the Jordan. Read More: https://punchng.com/archaeologists-claim-to-identify-site-where-jesus-was-baptised/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-10-20T20:58:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}