A remarkably intact 2,000-year-old Jewish ritual bath dating to around the time of Jesus has been unearthed in Israel — shedding light not only on Christ’s life but also “illuminating the world of the Bible,” according to a bestselling author and filmmaker.

The mikveh, which dates to the Second Temple period roughly 2,000 years ago, was recently extracted from Kiryat Gat, an Israeli city roughly 35 miles southwest of Jerusalem.

The structure had been uncovered during an archaeological excavation. The operation to remove it intact was announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) in September.