For decades, archaeologists and theologians have debated over whether the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is the site where Christ was supposedly buried and resurrected after being crucified.
The tomb has been sealed in marble since the 1500s in order to prevent visitors from stealing pieces as relics.
Lifting the tomb’s marble lid for the first time in 500 years, researchers discovered the limestone shelf where Jesus’s body was thought to have been placed, the Independent reports, referring to Mirror.
Also discovered, was a second grey marble slab previously unknown to the researchers, engraved with a cross they believe was carved in the 12th century by the Crusaders.
According to archaeologist Fredrik Hiebert of National Geographic, this seems to be visible proof that the spot the pilgrims worship today really is the same tomb the Roman Emperor Constantine found in the 4th century and the Crusaders revered.
"When we realised what we had found my knees were shaking a little bit,'' Hiebert said.