Archaeologists have identified the exact site of Jesus Christ's baptism

Scientists from Jordan have announced the discovery of the site where, according to biblical texts, Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. A research team led by Professor Mohammad Wahib of Hashemite University compared the findings of archaeological excavations in the area of Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Wadi al-Harrar) with historical accounts by pilgrims and texts from the Holy Scriptures.

During extensive excavations on the east bank of the Jordan River, the remains of ancient prayer halls, temples, and water supply systems were discovered, confirming the area’s status as a center of early Christian pilgrimage. Professor Wahib emphasizes that the discovered sites fully correspond to descriptions from 4th–6th centuries, including the accounts of the Pilgrim of Bordeaux and the traveler Theodosius, who located the site of the baptism five miles from the Jordan’s confluence with the Dead Sea.

The researchers also analyzed the ancient mosaic map from Madaba, according to which Bethany on the eastern bank and Bethavara on the western bank are distinct geographical locations. According to the scholar, the historical confusion arose from the assumptions of the early theologian Origen, whose interpretation contradicted the explicit statement in the Gospel of John (John 1:28). Jordan is currently actively investing in the development of this historical site, having allocated $120 million to infrastructure projects at the site of the Baptism of the Lord.