Archaeologists reveal strange inscriptions in Room of the Last Supper in Jerusalem

The recent discovery was announced by the Austrian Academy of Science (OeAW) on April 16, with the help of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Archaeologists identified some 40 elements of graffiti, including five coats of arms.

Most of the inscriptions date back to the late Middle Ages. 

Researchers found that the site attracted numerous international tourists - and several pilgrims left messages in their native language.

Pictures from the site show various coats of arms and writings in ancient languages. 

A drawing of a scorpion was also found - presumably when Suleiman the Magnificent took over the Cenacle in 1523 and turned it into a mosque.

The inscriptions were written by pilgrims from Serbia, the modern-day Czech Republic and Germany, as well as Armenia and Syria. 

Most of the graffiti, though, was left by Arabic-speaking Christians.

One interesting depiction of the Last Supper was found above a German coat of arms, which depicted a goblet, a platter, and a round piece of bread with a hole in it, similar to a Jerusalem bagel. 

Researchers also found an Armenian inscription reading "Christmas 1300," as well as an Arabic inscription reading "ya al-Ḥalabīya."

"Based on the double use of the feminine suffix 'ya', the researchers concluded that this is a graffito of a female Christian pilgrim from the Syrian city of Aleppo, making it a rare material trace of pre-modern female pilgrimage," the statement noted.

Researchers first documented the inscriptions using multispectral photography and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), before analyzing the images in a lab. 

In the press release, historian Ilya Berkovich said the graffiti was surprisingly diverse, with multiple countries being represented on the walls of the hall.

"When put together, the inscriptions provide a unique insight into the geographical origins of the pilgrims," Berkovich said in the release. "This was far more diverse than current Western-dominated research perspective led us to believe."

The latest discovery is one of many Christianity-related finds in recent months. 

It consisted of a silver inscription dating back to between 230 and 260 A.D.