Israeli Antiquities Authority uncovers large mausoleum (13 images)

Archeologist Dan Shachar cleans a mosiac cross from the Byzantine Period discovered in a large mausoleum uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority while searching for the real location of the Tomb of the Maccabees in Modi'in, Israel, September 21, 2015. Byzantine Period mosaics adorned with a cross were found in the floor of a burial vault believed to be associated with the Tombs of the Maccabees who were exalted saints in the eyes of early Christianity. The Maccabees led the uprising against Greek rule and were responsible for cleansing the impurity from the Second Temple. As yet, archaeological evidence is not currently sufficient to establish that this burial place is of the Maccabees. The Israeli Antiquities Authority has vowed to extend the excavations in hope of finding evidence to confirm that this large mausoleum is the Tomb of the Maccabees. Photo by Debbie Hill/ UPI

An overview of an archaeological site that has revealed a large mausoleum uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority while searching for the real location of the Tomb of the Maccabees in Modi'in, Israel, September 21, 2015. Photo by Debbie Hill/ UPI

A mosaic cross from the Byzantine Period was found in a burial vault in a large mausoleum uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority while searching for the real location of the Tomb of the Maccabees in Modi'in, Israel, September 21, 2015. Photo by Debbie Hill/ UPI

A journalist films burial vaults at an archaeological site that has revealed a large mausoleum uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority while searching for the real location of the Tomb of the Maccabees in Modi'in, Israel, September 21, 2015. Photo by Debbie Hill/ UPI