Archaeologists say Site of the Biblical Wedding Banquet Found
New discoveries in modern-day Cana has archeologists believing the exact site of the Biblical wedding Banquet of Cana has been found.
According to a Dec. 22 Associated Press report, “archeologists found pieces of large stone jars of the type the Gospel says Jesus used when he turned water into wine at a Jewish wedding in the Galilee village of Cana.”
The shards were found during a “salvage dig” in a the modern-day Cana between Nazareth and Capernaum. The pieces date back to the Roman period, when Jesus traveled to Galilee, suggesting the jars were the same ones used during the biblical ceremony.
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"All indications from the archaeological excavations suggest that the site of the wedding was (modern-day) Cana, the site that we have been investigating," said Yardena Alexander, according to AP.
However, many archaeologists are not sure if the shards are enough to prove they were the same ones used during the miracle, since the type of stone jars are not rare.
"Just the existence of stone vessels is not enough to prove that this is a biblical site," said another archaeologist Shimon Gibson.
Alexander, meanwhile, defended her findings, saying the vessels are 12-16 inches – exactly the same type described in the Gospel of John. She also said the biblical account includes the presence of a “Jewish ritual bath at the house,” which was found in the site.
"We're really working very hard to save some of this site because what we do have here is a village of Jesus," she said. "And it was here that he carried out the first miracle."
Meanwhile, several miles north of modern day Cana, American archaeologists found pieces of stone jars similar to that found by Alexander; they too say they believe they found the biblical Cana.
Stephen Pfann, a Bible scholar in Jerusalem, said both sites fit into the general description of the general site. Therefore, Pfann said, more excavations will be needed. .
"I think there is ample evidence that both sites are from the first century, and we need more information to correctly identify either site," Pfann said.
The event of Jesus changing water into wine is one of the best known miracles He performed. It was also the first miracle Jesus performed in his public ministry.
