From Flesh to Bone: Understanding Burial Practices

The discovery of the crucifixion heel in a first-century ossuary reveals ancient Jewish burial customs. Initially, the deceased were placed on a stone bench within a tomb, as described in biblical accounts. After a year, once decomposition occurred, relatives would retrieve the bones and store them in an ossuary. This practice highlights a significant period in burial traditions, particularly around AD 70, and reflects a continuity in historical funerary customs, as evidenced by multiple ossuaries found from that era.