Archaeologists uncovered the building in the central Israeli city of Yavne. The Sanhedrin relocated to Yavne after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago.

Among the remains, they found chalkstone cups, "clear evidence that its occupants were observing Jewish laws of ritual purity," the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said in a statement.

Excavators also found an impressive cemetery about 230 feet away from the building. Experts say the location of the cemetery would have likely put it outside of the boundaries of the city in accordance with Jewish and Roman law.

"We encountered dozens of carefully arranged tombs spaced out at set distances, which probably indicates the existence of a 'burial society'—some official body that was responsible for burial," said Pablo Betzer and Dr. Daniel Varga, directors of the Yavne excavation for the IAA. "There are different types of tombs: some are coffins (sarcophagi), which are made mostly of stone with one lead coffin."

Archaeologists don't know for sure who is buried in the cemetery because there are no ethnic symbols on the coffins. But they speculate "with all due caution" that the coffins could belong to the ancient Jewish inhabitants and perhaps even some of the members of the Sanhedrin.

"If this hypothesis is correct, then at least some of the tombs, perhaps the most elaborate, may belong to the sages of Yavne, contemporaries of Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, Rabbi Akiva and Rabban Gamliel," the IAA said.

Excavators found 150 glass vials on top of tombs.

"The vials were probably used to keep precious liquids such as fragrant oils," said Dr. Yael Gorin-Rosen, head of the IAA's glass department. (Screengrab image)

"About half of them were locally produced and the other half were imported from Alexandria in Egypt. Vials of this type have been recovered in excavations at both Jewish and pagan burial sites from the first to the early third centuries CE. It is a mystery why the vials were placed outside the tombs in Yavne and not inside them, as was usual," Gorin-Rosen said.

After the Romans destroyed the Second Temple of Jerusalem and the Sanhedrin relocated to Yavne, the city became the spiritual center of ancient Israel. It was there that the ancient Jewish sages "restored the Torah to the Land of Israel and established laws in keeping with the new reality, without the Temple. It can be said that the foundations of Judaism as we know it today were laid in Yavne," the IAA said.

This latest archaeological discovery was made during attempts to build new housing units in the modern city of Yavne. Oftentimes before the construction process begins in Israel, the IAA conducts excavations to find and preserve any archaeological finds.

"It is exciting to see ancient accounts of the Sanhedrin translated into actual evidence in the field, with vessels, installations and buildings," said IAA Director Eli Eskozido. "With the project's initiators at the Israel Land Authority and Yavne municipality, the Israel Antiquities Authority is examining the possibility of preserving some of these finds and presenting them to the general public." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Click Here watch the IAA video, and view more photos.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Researchers Discover 'Breakthrough' Manuscripts by Apostle Paul

'I Was Praying and God Spared His Life': Florida Officer Convinces Suicidal Man Not to Jump

Hundreds of Canadians Protest Anti-Christian Bill C-9 at Carney, Other Liberals' Offices

'Historic': Alberta, Looking to Secede from Canada, Delivers Way More Than Enough Signatures for the Ballot

Trump Gives Blue Collar Americans a Real Chance of Retiring Well

ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Charged with Torturing Dogs in Las Vegas

Project Freedom: Iran's Regime Fires at US Protecting Commercial Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, US Sinks 6 IRGC Gunboats

Supreme Court Allows Louisiana to Immediately Move on Drawing New Map

'The Story of Everything'

'This Is a Turning Point': Iranian Christians Using time of War to Share the Gospel

Special Report: 634 Left vs. 41 Right: While Trump Fights Iran, Big Four News Apps Attack Trump

DOJ Launches Probe into Illinois Schools Over Gender Ideology Taught Without Parental Notice

Supreme Court Steps in, Pauses Federal Court Block on Abortion Pills by Mail Nationwide, Reinstates Biden Rule Temporarily

Prayer Alert: Shooting at Lake Near Oklahoma City Sends at Least 12 People to Hospitals

Pentagon to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany amid Rising Tensions

'Not Leaving Right Now': Trump Says US to Guide Ships Through Hormuz Strait Despite Iran Warning

Prayer Alert: Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical, But Stable Condition

Supreme Court Rules for Pro-Life Centers: 'The Government Has No Business Harassing Pro-Life Ministries'

President Trump Signs Executive Order Expanding High-Quality Retirement Accounts for Millions of Americans (VIDEO)

Worldwide Implications of the UAE's OPEC Exit