Garden Tomb

The Garden Tomb is a quiet walled garden on Conrad Schick Street in East Jerusalem, Israel, a short walk north of Damascus Gate and outside the Old City walls. Many Protestants regard the rock-cut tomb here as an alternative to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the burial and resurrection of Jesus. The identification dates to the 1880s, when General Charles Gordon suggested that a nearby skull-shaped hill matched the biblical Golgotha. Archaeologists generally date the tomb to the Iron Age rather than the first century, but the site is maintained as a place of prayer and contemplation rather than as a proven historical location. The garden is run by a charitable trust, and volunteer guides lead free group talks in English at set times, explaining the biblical account and the arguments for the site. Visitors enter through a narrow lane and walk past flower beds, olive trees and shaded seating to the tomb itself, a small chamber with a channel for a rolling stone and a viewing window. Several chapels and quiet corners host small services, and visitors may reserve a group communion slot in advance. A viewpoint at the edge of the garden looks toward the rocky outcrop that gave rise to the Skull Hill theory. The atmosphere is calm and reflective compared with the busy Old City, and the garden is a popular stop for Protestant and Evangelical groups. A visit usually takes about 45 minutes, with the guided talk being the main time commitment. Mornings before groups arrive are quietest, and the garden closes at midday for a break and then reopens in the afternoon. It is closed on Sundays. Entry is free, though donations support upkeep, and photography is welcomed in the grounds. The site is close to the Damascus Gate light rail stop, which makes it easy to combine with a walk through the Muslim Quarter.