Cheryl
Those being crucified typically carried the crossbeam to the execution site, while the upright post remained secured in its position.
The victim was stripped and placed on the cross-beam. The nails were driven through the middle of the forearm to ensure they would rest between the two arm bones. Small wooden plaques were probably used as large washers to keep the arms from slipping off the nails. Once it was secured, the crosspiece was lifted over the upright and lowered into place. once hung, the weight of the body would pull the arm nails up the forearm until they became lodged in the wrist.
In 1968, the bones of a crucified man were discovered in a grave just north of Jerusalem. The man was about 26 years old and 5.5 feet tall. A nail was still embedded in the heel bone. An examination revealed that the nail had struck a knot in the upright, bent, and become stuck to it. The foot had to be removed from the body, and the upright sawed off above and below the nail, and placed in the grave.
Medical examination revealed that the legs had been broken to hasten death. The angle of the breaks suggested that the legs had been bent underneath the victim. Further investigation indicated that each heel was attached individually on either side of the cross.
Scripture says, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree” (Gal 3:13). Archaeological evidence suggests that the victim was often dragged from the city, with the crossbeam hanging from the branches of a nearby tree and the feet nailed to either side of the trunk. The Synoptics indicate that Jesus was crucified at a site known for such executions, which likely points to the upright being a permanent feature of the location.