Archaeologists have uncovered a 1,700-year-old stone engraving at Abel Beth Maacah in Upper Galilee, a site linked to biblical stories where Jesus is believed to have “walked on water.” The volcanic stone, inscribed in Ancient Greek, may reshape our understanding of the Roman Empire’s reach.
The artifact references Caesar Marcus Aurelius Alexander and names four officials managing Roman territories. Experts believe the stone marked the boundary between two previously unknown towns—Tirathas and Golgol—possibly connected to the biblical Gilgal and Golgotha.
Gilgal appears in the Book of Joshua as an Israelite encampment, while Golgotha is recognized as the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. The 19th-century Lebanese site Turritha may be the lost location of Tirathas.
Professor Uzi of Hebrew University told The Mirror: “Finding a boundary stone like this sheds light on ancient land ownership and taxation, offering a real glimpse into lives nearly two millennia ago.”