The Ancient Galilee Boat

(32.844, 35.525)

In 1986 a pair of amateur archaeologists discovered bits of a 1st century CE wooden fishing boat poking out on a shoreline that had been lowered by a three-year drought. The fragile 28-foot craft was excavated in 11 days and subjected to a heroic preservation effort that culminated in it's display in a lovely facility in Ginosar. Although dubbed the "Jesus Boat" and likely similar to vessels of Jesus' time, there is no reason to believe that Jesus had anything to do with this boat or that the craft even dates from Jesus' short lifetime. Nevertheless, it's a fascinating artifact that literally gives bones to biblical stories whose humanity can get lost in symbolism and theological practice.

05/25/2011 09:05 IDT Gathering onshore	05/25/2011 09:07 IDT Entrance
05/25/2011 09:07 IDT Boat model	05/25/2011 09:07 IDT Boat model
05/25/2011 09:13 IDT Boat model	05/25/2011 09:19 IDT The boat
05/25/2011 09:20 IDT The boat	05/25/2011 09:20 IDT Wood type diagram
05/25/2011 09:22 IDT The boat	05/25/2011 09:28 IDT The boat
05/25/2011 09:29 IDT Gift shop	05/25/2011 09:43 IDT Parking lot
05/25/2011 09:44 IDT Vigal Allon Centre	05/25/2011 09:59 IDT Banana trees
05/25/2011 10:00 IDT Banana trees	05/25/2011 10:01 IDT Banana trees
05/25/2011 10:06 IDT Banana trees	05/25/2011 10:07 IDT Banana trees
05/25/2011 10:01 IDT Water pumping plant	05/25/2011 10:01 IDT Water pumping plant
05/25/2011 10:01 IDT Water pumping plant	05/25/2011 10:02 IDT Water pumping plant
05/25/2011 10:04 IDT Spina-Christi tree (Jujube - crown of thorns)	05/25/2011 10:06 IDT Spina-Christi tree

Next: Mount of the Beatitudes...