The Original Rock
Image idea: the exposed limestone burial bed.
Beneath the cross slab was the original limestone surface of the burial bed. It was still in one piece.
Fredrik Hiebert, an archaeologist with National Geographic who was filming the work, said he was so amazed that his knees were shaking. He had not expected the original rock to survive.
For the first time in hundreds of years, people could see the rock surface that pilgrims had prayed over. It was a deeply moving moment for many of those in the room.