Where Sacred History Meets Archaeological Evidence
An exhaustive, accessible forensic investigation documenting 1st-century Roman Judea, Galilee, and Jerusalem. Uncover the physical world of the Gospel accounts through 100 historical excavation photographs, authentic cartographic stratigraphy, and 65 academic & historical citations.
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Curated aerial excavation plates, topographical maps & high-res artifact photos.
Exhaustive academic & historical archaeological monographs, field journals & epigraphic corpora.
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Full unedited editions published simultaneously in English and Polish (Archeologia Ewangelii).
Book Content Subjects & Video Reels
Did a 30-sec video pique your curiosity? Discover the complete academic context, stratum diagrams, and full primary sources detailed in the book.
1st-Century AD Synagogues
Archaeologically excavated synagogues from the 1st century AD, such as Magdala and Gamla. Discoveries include carved limestone reading tables and the 'Seat of Moses' where Jesus sat and taught throughout Galilee.
Archaeology of Machaerus
The hilltop desert fortress of Herod Antipas overlooking the Dead Sea. Flavius Josephus records that John the Baptist was imprisoned and executed here. Excavations reveal the palatial fortress, baths, and royal courtyard.
Pilate's Palace in Jerusalem & The Bema
Built by Herod the Great and featuring the 3 famous defensive towers (Phasael, Hippicus, and Mariamne), this citadel served as Pontius Pilate's official residence during Gospel events.
Bema & Gabbatha: Discovered near Herod's Palace Western City Walls with the Essene Gate (now walled up). The authentic site of Pontius Pilate's judgment seat (John 19:13, Mk 15:16) and where Simon of Cyrene passed by (Mk 15:21).
Two Shrouds: Turin & Manoppello
Transpositioning of the Sacred FacesTwo images of Jesus' face from the Shrouds of Turin and Manoppello are so remarkably congruent that optical transpositioning is possible. Recent research confirms 1st-century provenance and distinct features on both sides of the Manoppello byssus fabric, affirming the Gospel accounts of the resurrection.
Examine the Scientific Layout and Archival Plates
Every chapter pairs historical biblical passages with direct archaeological stratigraphy, GPS topography, and translated epigraphic evidence.
Figure 91. Limestone ossuary with ornate double rosette motif and carved Aramaic inscription of 'Yehosef bar Qayafa' (Joseph son of Caiaphas), found south of the Peace Forest.
Chapter 9.2: The Ossuaries of High Priest Caiaphas' Family Confirm His Historical Authenticity
“In November 1990, during public park excavations near Abu Tor in southern Jerusalem, a bulldozer roof collapse exposed an untouched burial cave dating precisely to the Herodian epoch. Within the loculi lay twelve bone-boxes (ossuaries), including an intricately carved limestone container bearing the incised Aramaic name...”
In the book, the ossuary of Mariam — granddaughter of Caiaphas — discovered in the Valley of Elah is presented. The inscription confirms that Caiaphas was from the Maaziah priestly temple division/descendants (1 Chr 24:1-18).
Prutah minted by Herod Antipas
GALILEE & PEREA • TIBERIAS MINTBronze prutah struck under the tetrarch Herod Antipas at Tiberias. Bears the palm branch symbol and Greek inscription 'TIBEPIAC' honoring Emperor Tiberius.
DENOMINATION: BRONZE PRUTAH • REIGN: 4 BCE – 39 CE
Coin of King Aristobulus V and his wife Queen Salome, Herodias' Daughter
ARMENIA MINOR / CHALCISExtremely rare bilingual royal issue depicting Aristobulus V on the obverse and Queen Salome (the dancer from Matthew 14:6 and Mark 6:22) on the reverse with her full royal title.
DENOMINATION: BRONZE COIN • DATE: C. 56–57 CE
Roman Denarius with a head of Tiberius Caesar
IMPERIAL ROME • THE TRIBUTE PENNYOn this image is a gold coin (Aureus). The silver equivalent of this coin — the Denarius (bearing the exact same images on both sides: portrait of Emperor Tiberius on the obverse and seated Livia as Pax on the reverse) — was the coin used by Jesus in the Gospel discussion about paying taxes to Caesar ('Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's', Mt 22:15–22).
DENOMINATION: SILVER DENARIUS • LUGDUNUM MINT • C. 14–37 CE
Coin of Herod the Great
JUDEAN KINGDOM • JERUSALEM / SAMARIAOfficial bronze issue of King Herod the Great. Features pagan-neutral architectural and ceremonial motifs complying with Jewish aniconic sensitivities: helmet, tripod table, and pomegranate.
DENOMINATION: 8 PRUTOT / BRONZE • REIGN: 37–4 BCE
Coins of Pontius Pilate from AD 26, AD 30 and AD 31
PROCURATORIAL JUDEA • LITUUS & SIMPULUMThe providential series struck in Jerusalem during Pilate's prefecture (Years 16, 17, and 18 of Tiberius). Boldly features pagan Roman augural instruments—the lituus (augur's wand) and simpulum (libation ladle)—provoking Judean religious outrage.
DENOMINATION: BRONZE PRUTAH • DATED LIS (AD 29/30), LIZ (AD 30/31), LIZ (AD 31/32)
Coin of Philip the Tetrarch
ITURAEA & TRACHONITIS • CAESAREA PHILIPPIMinted at Caesarea Philippi (Banias) by Herod's son Philip. The first Jewish ruler to depict the bust of Roman Emperors (Augustus and Tiberius) and the pagan Augusteum temple at the spring of Pan.
DENOMINATION: BRONZE ISSUE • REIGN: 4 BCE – 34 CE
Historical Cartography & Map Plates
The book contains historical maps equipped with cartographic coordinate grids — all locations described in the text across Palestine and Jerusalem have been precisely located (e.g., Map 3, E5). The monograph identifies, among others, the exact location of the Cove of the Parables on the Sea of Galilee — a natural acoustic amphitheater where Jesus could address thousands of listeners, as well as the GPS coordinates of the subterranean chambers of the first Christian church in Jerusalem (today heavily neglected), situated near the Cenacle (Upper Room).
- check_circleComplete reconstruction of 1st-century Jerusalem topography prior to Roman destruction in 70 CE.
- check_circleArchaeological documentation of the basalt synagogue at Capernaum and the foundations of the insula of St. Peter.
- check_circleThe latest excavations unearthed the stone floor of the church constructed over the house of birth of Peter and Andrew at Bethsaida (Jn 1:44).
The Madaba Mosaic Map (6th Century CE) — All mosaic inscriptions are in Greek, while cartographic explanations have been prepared by the author.
6 HISTORICAL SURVEY MAPSPhysical Map of Palestine in Jesus' Time
MAP I • RELIEF SURVEYComprehensive geographic contours, elevation profiles from Mt. Hermon to the Dead Sea basin, wadi drainages, and regional microclimates of 1st-century Roman Judea and Galilee.
Political Map of Palestine in Jesus' Time
MAP II • ADMINISTRATIVE BORDERSDelineated administrative frontiers under Herod Antipas (Galilee & Perea), Philip the Tetrarch (Iturea & Trachonitis), the Roman Province of Judea under Pontius Pilate, and the Decapolis league.
Palestine on Mosaic Map from Church of St. George in Madaba, Jordan
MAP III • 6TH CENTURY MOSAICThe oldest surviving original cartographic depiction of the Holy Land. All original mosaic writings are in Greek; English labels and identifications are made by the author. Features detailed Byzantine perspective renderings of Jerusalem's Cardo Maximus and Nea Church.
Jerusalem Map in Jesus' Time
MAP IV • HERODIAN METROPOLISForensic reconstruction incorporating recent excavations: the Second Temple platform, Antonia Fortress, Praetorium citadel, Pool of Siloam, Pool of Bethesda, and Golgotha stone quarry topography.
Map of the Roman Empire from the 1st Century
MAP V • IMPERIAL PROVINCESFull imperial expanse illustrating senatorial and imperial provinces, Roman legionary garrisons, primary maritime shipping routes, and Via Maris & King's Highway communication networks under Tiberius Caesar.
Map of Italy Presenting Turin and Manoppello
MAP VI • HISTORICAL ITINERARYGeographical and pilgrim itinerary mapping the Italian peninsula, linking the historical trajectories, archival preservation, and scientific textile research locations of the Shroud of Turin and the Holy Face of Manoppello.
Scientific References & Academic & Historical Citations
Amorai-Stark, S. et al. (2018) An Inscribed Copper-Alloy Finger Ring from Herodium Depicting a Krater. Israel Exploration Journal 68:2, p. 217.
Avigad, N. (1962) A Depository of Inscribed Ossuaries in the Kidron Valley. Israel Exploration Journal. 12 (1): 1–12.
Badde, P. (2018) The Holy Veil of Manoppello: The Human Face of God. Sophia Institute Press.
Bunch, T. E. et al. (2021) A Tunguska sized airburst destroyed Tall el-Hammam, a Middle Bronze Age city in the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea. Sci Rep 11, 18632.
Catalano, G. M. (2018) The New Astonishing Phenomenon Detected on the Shroud. International Institute for Advanced Studies of Space Representation Sciences.
Collins, S., & Scott, L. C. (2016) Discovering the City of Sodom: The Fascinating, True Account of the Discovery of the Old Testament’s Most Infamous City. Howard Books.
Cook, E. (2003) Remarks on the Aramaic of the James Ossuary. The Bible and Interpretation [Web Publication].
De Caro, L. et al. (2019) A Comparison between the Face of the Veil of Manoppello and the Face of the Shroud of Turin. Heritage 2(1), 339–355.
De Caro, L. et al. (2023) Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering Analysis of the Shroud of Turin. Journal of Material Science and Spiritual Studies, 12(3), 45–58.
Di Segni, L. et al. (2023) The Greek Inscriptions from ‘The Church of St. Peter’ at Bethsaida (el-Araj). Liber Annuus 73: 365–384.
Dorient, S. (2016) Mysteries surrounded the opening of Jesus Christ’s tomb. Aleteia Online.
Eisenberg, M. (2018) Hippos-Sussita of the Decapolis: The First Twelve Seasons of Excavations 2000–2011. Vol. II. The Zinman Institute of Archaeology.
Elitzur, Y. (2008) The Siloam Pool — ‘Solomon’s Pool’ — was a Swimming Pool. Palestine Exploration Quarterly 140(1): 17–22.
Eusebius of Caesarea (1850) Ecclesiastical History. Stanford & Swords.
Evans, C. A. (2003) Jesus and the Ossuaries: What Jewish Burial Practices Reveal about the Beginning of Christianity. Baylor University Press.
Fanti, G., & Malfi, P. (2015) The Shroud of Turin: First Century after Christ! Jenny Stanford Publishing.
Fitzmyer, J. A. (2002) Whose Name Is This? America (NY) vol. 187, no. 16, pp. 9–13.
Fisher, R. R. & Schmalz, R. E. (1983) The Messianic Seal of the Jerusalem Church. Decatur, IL: Chronos Publishing.
Frale, B. (2009) La sindone di Gesù Nazareno. Il Mulino.
Fuchs, C. (2003) Statistical Analysis of Biblical Names for Archaeological Purposes. The Annals of Applied Statistics vol. 1, pp. 3–112.
Gertoux, G. (2015) Herod the Great and Jesus: Chronological, Historical and Archaeological Evidence. Lulu.com.
Gibson, S. (2009) The Final Days of Jesus: The Archaeological Evidence. HarperOne.
Hachlili, R. (1984) Names and Nicknames of Jews in Second Temple Times. Israel Exploration Society Erez-Israel 17.
Heller, J. H. (1983) Report on the Shroud of Turin. Houghton Mifflin.
Humphreys, C. J. (2011) The Mystery of the Last Supper: Reconstructing the Final Days of Jesus. Cambridge University Press.
Jaworski, J. S. (2010) Properties of byssal threads, the chemical nature of their colours and the Veil of Manoppello. Proceedings of the International Workshop on the Scientific Approach to the Acheiropoietos Images.
Josephus, Flavius (1737) Antiquities of the Jews, Books 17–18. Trans. William Whiston.
Kennedy, T. (2022) Excavating The Evidence for Jesus. Harvest House Publishers.
Kloner, A., & Zissu, B. (2003) The Necropolis of Jerusalem in the Second Temple Period. Interdisciplinary Studies in Ancient Culture and Religion.
Kramer, J. P. (2020) Where God Came Down. Expedition Bible.
Krumbein, W. E. (2003) Patina and cultural heritage: a geomicrobiologist’s perspective. Proceedings of 5th EC Conference, Cultural Heritage Research, pp. 39–47.
Kyle, M. G. & Albright, W. F. (1924) Results of the Archaeological Survey of the Ghor. Bibliotheca Sacra 81: 276–291.
Lemaire, A. (2002) Burial Box of James the brother of Jesus. Biblical Archaeology Review, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 24–33.
Lemaire, A. (2003) Israel Antiquities Authority’s Report on James Ossuary is Deeply Flawed. Biblical Archaeology Review vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 50–59.
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Machiela, D. A. (2009) The Dead Sea Genesis Apocryphon. Leiden Boston: BRILL.
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Moropoulou, A. et al. (2019) Novel, Sustainable Preservation of Modern and Historic Buildings and Infrastructure: The Paradigm of the Holy Aedicule’s Rehabilitation. International Journal of Architectural Heritage 15(6): 1–21.
Moropoulou, A. et al. (2022) The Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. National Technical University of Athens. IAA Conference.
Nollet, J. A. (2012) Astronomical and historical evidence for dating the nativity in 2 BC. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 64(4), 211–219.
Notley, R. S. (2022) Byzantine Bethsaida and the House of St. Peter. Novum Testamentum 64: 532–551.
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Reich, R., & Shukron, E. (2011) The Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem of the Late Second Temple Period and Its Surroundings. Pp. 241–55 in Unearthing Jerusalem: 150 Years of Archaeological Research in the Holy City.
STELLARIUM (2024) Open-source astronomical planetarium calculations & planetary alignments. stellarium.org.
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Scholarly Endorsements & Reader Reviews
“Very interesting read, this book goes into a lot of detail explaining the historical background and significance of various Gospel passages and archaeological artefacts, it links Gospel passages with real discoveries and ties in their meaning, would recommend for anyone looking to learn more about the history of Jesus' time.”
Jakub Pawlikowski
Logistics Engineer
“The author presents the latest archaeological discoveries and artifacts confirming that Jesus Christ lived between 2 BC - 33 AD. In the publication I found information about the first church in Jerusalem. The chapter about the James Ossuary is particularly note-worthy. Many photographs, maps, and interesting facts are included. The book is written with great passion.”
Dorota Fraser
M.Sc. Agriculture
“An exceptional publication that, through facts and deep historical knowledge, satisfies curiosity about the past. The book captivates both with the richness of information and with its beautiful narration. The presentation of archaeological research findings is supported by references to sources. An excellent book. Highly recommended!”
Michał Młotek
Local Government Official
“It raises an important issue: faith. It is difficult in today’s world to speak openly about what one believes and what lies behind religious ideas. I am infinitely grateful that the author undertook a great effort to present this subject in a simple yet fascinating way. If I were to recommend something to read this evening, it would be this book.”
Karolina Adamska
Book Fair Reporter
The Mission Behind 'Archaeology of the Gospels'
For over two centuries, scientific archaeology in the Near East has produced remarkable discoveries—yet these crucial reports remain sequestered inside obscure academic journals, inaccessible paywalls, and specialized university libraries.
Our objective was to dismantle this barrier. By synthesizing archaeological publications, excavation reports, numismatic data, and historical cartography into an accessible yet uncompromised volume, readers can now inspect the primary material culture with their own eyes.
“Archaeology does not replace faith; it brings to light the real world in which the Gospels took shape. If so many places, events, and circumstances described in them find support in archaeological discoveries, should we not reconsider the historical credibility of the entire Gospel narrative with an open mind?”
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About the Author — Margaret Szewczenko
Nicolaus Copernicus University (Toruń, Poland)
Graduated with Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Biochemistry from the prestigious Nicolaus Copernicus University in Poland (Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu), receiving rigorous formal academic foundation in molecular analysis, biochemistry, and empirical scientific methodology.
Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz & University of Toronto
Senior Staff Research Scientist and scientific investigator across renowned international research environments: the Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz, Poland, followed by extensive biomedical and molecular laboratory research at the University of Toronto, Department of Medicine (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).
Scientific Publications & Citation Index
Scientific publications published under the name: M. Szewczenko-Pawlikowski
Monograph author pen name for biblical historical monographs remains Margaret Szewczenko. Frequently cited by international peer-reviewed journals and university biomedical laboratories worldwide.
- J. Biol. Chem. (2001) — Journal of Biological Chemistry • Senior co-author. High-impact biochemical research cited internationally.
- Biochim. Biophys. Acta (2000) — Biochimica et Biophysica Acta • Molecular biology and membrane biochemistry study.
- Biochim. Biophys. Acta (2000) — Biochimica et Biophysica Acta • Biophysical analysis of protein structures and cellular mechanisms.
- Mol. Cell Biochem. (1997) — Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry • Experimental inquiry and molecular diagnostics.
- J. Cell Biol. (1996) — Journal of Cell Biology • Fundamental cellular investigations (Highly Cited Paper).
- Experientia (1991) — Experientia (Interdisciplinary Life Sciences) • Biological experimental methodology.
- Experientia (1990) — Experientia (Interdisciplinary Life Sciences) • Primary biochemical investigations.
Now applying decades of scientific training and archival discipline to the historical monograph Archaeology of the Gospels (Archeologia Ewangelii), meticulously cross-referencing excavation reports, epigraphic corpora, numismatic discoveries, and topographical stratigraphy.
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