Archaeologists from Jerusalem's Studium Biblicum Franciscanum have discovered first century vases of perfumed appointment from a site in the ancient Palestinian town of Magdala. The UK Telegraph reports that the Italian team have been digging for several months at the town of Magdala - from where Mary is said to get her name.
The archaeologists of the Franciscan academic society Studium Biblicum Franciscanum found the unopened vases dating to the first century AD conserved in mud at the bottom of a swimming pool in Magdala's thermal complex.
The town is on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee and Mary Magdalene is mentioned several times throughout the Bible.
Many believe that Mary Magdalene was the woman described in the Gospel of St Luke who anointed Jesus' feet with oil and then wiped them with her tears and hair.
Speaking of the discovery Fr Stefano De Luca who is leading the dig, said: "The mud filled condition of the site allowed us to find these truly extraordinary objects, which were intact and sealed and still contain greasy substances.
"We think these are balms and perfumes and if chemical analysis confirms this, they could be similar to those used by Mary Magdalene in the Gospels to anoint the feet of Christ.
"The discovery of these vases is very important. We have in our hands the cosmetic products from the time of Jesus. It's very likely that the woman who anointed Christ's feet used these products, or ones similar in organic composition and quality."
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(Source: CTHN)