SHOTLIST Kibbutz Tzuba, near Jerusalem, August 16 2004 1. Area where cave was found 2. Various of people walking into cave Kumeran museum, near Kibbutz Kaliya, Dead Sea 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Pfann, Archaeologist and President of Universal Holy Land: "I think that the given discussion that came out from this, although in some ways there's bit of imagination to it, I think it's still a plausible reconstruction of what may have been going on there. There may be people who want to put forward other ideas as to what might be with all of these given hundreds of fragmentary vessels and steps going into a pull and the image of John at the background. But I am not sure that it will be any more than the compelling argument that what Shimon Gibson has given in his discussion." Kibbutz Tzuba, near Jerusalem, August 16 2004 4. Various of Raffi Lewis, archaeological student and site manager, illuminating carvings in the cave walls, including one thought to be of John the Baptist carvings Kumeran museum, near Kibbuts Kaliya, Dead Sea 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Pfann, archaeologist and President of Universal Holy Land and saying: "I am sure that there maybe something there. There is the foot print for example also traditionally found in the place where Jesus stepped before he went up to his assumption. It is not unusual for these kinds of traditions to be around but these are probably traditions that would of involved centuries after John's time." Kibbutz Tzuba, near Jerusalem, August 16 2004 7. Close up of stone of "foot washing " 8. Raffi Lewis, archaeological student and site manager, demonstrating use of the stone for "foot washing" 8. Lewis walking into water in cave 9. Dr Shimon Gibson and others illuminating parts of the cave with a floodlight 10. Wide shot of wall that shows different layers of soil 11. Various of wall of layers STORYLINE: A leading archaeologist on Tuesday said it was a "plausible" that a cave discovered near Jerusalem may be where John the Baptist anointed many of his disciples. The cave, which is actually a cistern with 28 steps leading to an underground pool of water, is located at the bottom of a rocky cliff in the orchards of the community of Kibbutz Tzuba, near Ein Kerem where John the Baptist was born. The cave was discovered several years ago, but kept secret for scientific reasons until Monday. Archaeologists said they believed the cave could be the place where the New Testament prophet John the Baptist began baptising. They based their theory on the discovery of tens of thousands of shards from small ritual jugs, a stone used for foot cleansing and wall carvings that tell the story of the contemporary of Jesus. In an interview with APTN on Tuesday, Steven Pfann, an archaeologist and President of Universal Holy Land, said he thought "it's still a plausible reconstruction of what may have been going on there". Pfann said there may be many discussions taking place on the cave's uses, but added he wasn't sure any theories would be as compelling as those of Dr. Shimon Gibson, a British-born archaeologist who believes the cave sheds new light on the life of John the Baptist and baptism itself. Gibson said that he believed John developed his ideas and practice of baptising in the cave, before his days baptising in the Jordan River, which is far from Kibbutz Tzuba. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a022871baf3e9724ce794a01a01151c3 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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