Editing Magdala (section)

===State of Israel===
[[File:Muhammad el-Ajami, Majdal 02.jpg|thumb|right|250px| [[Maqam (shrine)|Maqam]] of Muhammad al-'Ajami, 2015]]

[[Walid Khalidi]] describes the village remains in 1992: "The site is dotted with rubble, [[Christ's-thorn]], and a few [[Arecaceae|palm]] and [[olive]] trees. The only remaining village landmark is the neglected shrine of Muhammad al-'Ajami, a low, square, stone structure topped by a formerly whitewashed dome. The land in the vicinity is cultivated by Israelis."<ref name=WK1992/> In 1991, Petersen visited the [[Maqam (shrine)|maqam]] of Muhammad al-Ajami, describing it as a small square building with a shallow [[dome]] supported by [[squinch]]es. The entrance was on the north side, where there also was a small window. The shrine appeared to contain two [[tomb]]s, one about {{convert|1|m|ft|sp=us}} high, while the other marked only by a low [[Curb (road)|kerb]] of stones. The larger tomb was covered with purple and green cloth.<ref name=Petersenp210/>

Visiting in the 1980s and 1990s, Jane Schaberg reports that the site was marked by a sign that says: "This was the birthplace of Mary Magdelene, a city that flourished toward the end of the Second Temple period and one of the cities fortified by Joseph ben Matityahu (Josephus) during the great revolt of the Jews against the Romans."<ref name=Schaebergp48>Schaberg, 2004, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=tNioAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA48  48]-49.</ref> The site contained an Islamic domed structure and an old stone house surrounded by a stone wall topped with barbed wire. Weeds had  grown over the site where excavations were carried out in the 1970s but had been suspended due to water seepage from underground springs.<ref name=Schaebergp48/> An [[Arab]] family living in a nearby shack served as caretakers for the portion of the site owned by the Franciscans. Another small plot of land was owned by the [[Greek Orthodox]] Church, while the  [[Jewish National Fund]] (JNF) owned the remainder.<ref name=Schaebergp48/>