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The estate of John M. Allegro

Searching for the treasure listed in the mysterious Dead Sea Scroll known as the Copper Scroll, John Allegro initiated an excavation near the Bene Hezir tomb. In this photo, the excavation team photographs remains directly in front of the Monument of Absalom. Near the so-called Tomb of Zechariah, Allegro’s team uncovered column drums and bases. Jerome Murphy-O’Connor suggests these were the last remains of the Church of James, the Brother of the Messiah, built by Paul of Eleutheropolis in the fourth century A.D. The church still stood in the Crusader period, when it was lovingly described by several Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem.