Bethlehem, located in the West Bank of Palestine, is known as the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ, and is a major pilgrimage site for Christians worldwide. The city’s centerpiece is the Church of the Nativity, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built over the traditional site of Jesus’ birth. In the twelfth century, during the Crusader period, protective walls, two bell towers, paintings, and mosaics were added to the church. During the mid-thirteenth century, prior to an invasion, Crusaders buried 13 bronze bells near the church, coating them with animal fat to protect them from rust. These bells were unearthed in 1906.
