1
Literal Translation / Primary Inscription
Epigraphic RecordRadiocarbon dating (120 BC – 40 AD) and associated pottery/coins (including a coin of Pontius Pilate) date the vessel's operation to the early 1st century AD.
Sea of Galilee Ancient Boat ('Jesus Boat')
1st-century BC / 1st-century AD 8.2-meter timber fishing vessel excavated from the mud of the Sea of Galilee
Direct Archaeological Attestation 92%
c. 50 BC – 70 AD
Discovery Excavation: Ginosar, northwest shore of Sea of Galilee, Israel (Moshe & Yuval Lufan, 1986)
Current Museum / Accession: Yigal Allon Center, Kibbutz Ginosar, Israel
An 8.27-meter long, 2.3-meter wide wooden fishing boat preserved in anaerobic mud during a severe drought, constructed primarily of cedar and oak using mortise-and-tenon joints, capable of carrying 13–15 passengers.
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Corroboration Distribution for Connected Passages (46 records)
87% Confidence
46 sources
41.3%
34.78%
15.22%
Direct Archaeology 19 (41.3%)
Ancient Historians 16 (34.78%)
Dead Sea Scrolls & Manuscripts 7 (15.22%)
Scholarly Consensus 0 (0%)
Debated & Traditional 4 (8.7%)
Claim-by-Claim Epistemic Verification Breakdown
Rigorous 4-part empirical analysis separating ancient text from bias and consensus
2
Biblical Corroboration & Cross-References
Scriptural HarmonyMatches the type, size, and nautical capacity of the Galilean fishing boats used by Jesus and his disciples throughout the Gospels (`MAR.4:35–41` calming the storm, `LUK.5:1–7` miraculous catch, `MAT.8:23–27`).
Corroborated Passages:
3
Scholarly Debate, Historiography & Modern Consensus
Critical NuanceScholars emphasize that while there is no evidence this specific boat was used by Jesus, it provides the precise physical technological prototype for Gospel seafaring on Lake Kinneret.
4
Ancient Author Bias, Royal Propaganda & Perspective
Ideological ContextAuthentic utilitarian working vessel repaired multiple times with scrap timber before being abandoned; unembellished physical artifact.
Corroborated Scripture Passages
Attested Figures & Kings
Excavations & Ancient Geography
Scholarly Editions & Critical Publications
- Wachsmann, S. (1995). The Sea of Galilee Boat: An Extraordinary 2000 Year Old Discovery. Plenum Press.