The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/biblical-archaeology/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Thu, 11 Jun 2026 01:16:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Biblical archaeology | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/biblical-archaeology/ 32 32 How ancient seeds are rewriting the history of biblical-era trade with Arabia https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-ancient-seeds-are-rewriting-the-history-of-biblical-era-trade-with-arabia/ Sat, 16 May 2026 04:51:35 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3818320 New radiocarbon dating of Ein Hatzeva fortress on ancient trade route in the Arava suggests it was built 2,800 years ago by the Kingdom of Israel, shoring up Bible's account

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]]> Shepherds without borders: In biblical Israel’s war zone, flocks traversed contested lands https://www.timesofisrael.com/shepherds-without-borders-in-biblical-israels-war-zone-flocks-traversed-contested-lands/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:04:34 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3802855 Study of 3,000-year-old animal teeth from Tel Hazor in the Upper Galilee shows herds moved between warring Israel and Aram, shedding light on ancient boundaries' permeability

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]]> 2,500-year-old infant mass grave cracks open enigma of biblical-era baby burials https://www.timesofisrael.com/2500-year-old-infant-mass-grave-cracks-open-enigma-of-biblical-era-baby-burials/ Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:25:05 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3798269 Archaeologists found the remains of dozens of children under the age of two deposited in a water reservoir of the ancient Judean town, a new study has revealed

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]]> How the Exodus story subverts pharaonic texts to mock ancient Egypt https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-the-exodus-story-subverts-pharaonic-texts-to-mock-ancient-egypt/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:32:30 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3791004 According to Bar-Ilan University's Joshua Berman, who curated the new hagaddah ‘Echoes of Egypt,' the biblical narrative 'culturally appropriates' facets of Egyptian culture -- by design

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]]> Iron from a 2,600-year-old shipwreck off Israeli coast may rewrite the history of war https://www.timesofisrael.com/iron-from-a-2600-year-old-shipwreck-off-israeli-coast-may-rewrite-the-history-of-war/ Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:35:55 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3787363 The first evidence that iron was traded as a semifinished product has been found off the coast of northern Israel. It may have been intended for weaponry among rival empires in an era of upheaval

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]]> Great Isaiah Scroll, oldest near-complete biblical book ever found, on show in entirety for 1st time since 1968 https://www.timesofisrael.com/great-isaiah-scroll-oldest-near-complete-biblical-book-ever-found-on-show-in-entirety-for-1st-time-since-1968/ Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:45:13 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3760822 The 2,100-year-old artifact, seven meters long, can be viewed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem; only 25 people at a time allowed into climate-controlled room

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]]> Forget the granny flat: Study of Israelite home shows elders ruled the Iron Age roost https://www.timesofisrael.com/forget-the-granny-flat-study-of-israelite-home-shows-elders-ruled-the-iron-age-roost/ Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:53:00 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3757634 Finds at Tel 'Eton preserved by fire amid Assyrian conquest 2,700 years ago offer evidence that matriarch and patriarch got biggest and best room of multi-generational household

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]]> Takamitsu Muraoka, Japanese pioneer of Dead Sea Scrolls Hebrew studies, dies at 88 https://www.timesofisrael.com/takamitsu-muraoka-japanese-pioneer-of-dead-sea-scrolls-hebrew-studies-dies-at-88/ Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:51:16 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3755625 A prominent specialist in Semitic languages, Muraoka was proud to describe himself as the first Japanese student to complete a PhD at the Hebrew University

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]]> 2,000-year-old Pilgrimage Road to Temple Mount opens to public after years of digging https://www.timesofisrael.com/2000-year-old-pilgrimage-road-to-temple-mount-opens-to-public-after-years-of-digging/ Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:42:32 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3738009 Millennia after being buried, street once traversed by millions of faithful from southern end of ancient Jerusalem to Western Wall can once again be walked by visitors

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]]> Smashed by ISIS, a 2,700-year-old carving may have been the earliest-known depiction of Jerusalem https://www.timesofisrael.com/smashed-by-isis-a-2700-year-old-carving-may-have-been-the-earliest-known-depiction-of-jerusalem/ Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:14:04 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3728676 New research suggests a long-overlooked bas-relief in King Sennacherib’s palace in modern-day Mosul, Iraq, destroyed with other priceless artifacts, showed the Temple Mount and Bible's King Hezekiah

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]]> Archaeologist Gabriel Barkay, pioneer of Temple Mount research, dies at 81 https://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologist-gabriel-barkay-pioneer-of-temple-mount-research-dies-at-81/ Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:03:30 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3733691 Discoverer of the Ketef Hinnom scrolls and founder of Temple Mount Sifting Project was a larger-than-life figure who stirred controversy, loved Jerusalem and made the city his mission

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]]> The oldest complete biblical scroll ever found was originally split in 2, scholar finds https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-oldest-complete-biblical-scroll-ever-found-was-originally-split-in-2-scholar-finds/ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:17:41 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3723517 Study comes as 'Great Isaiah,' a 24-foot-long text parchment found with the Dead Sea Scrolls, set to be displayed by the Israel Museum in full for the first time since 1968

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]]> Despite academic battle royal, a new book returns David’s kingdom to its place in history https://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-academic-battle-royal-a-new-book-returns-davids-kingdom-to-its-place-in-history/ Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:46:07 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3691313 In 'The Bible’s First Kings,' scholars piece together archaeology and biblical studies to show that a United Monarchy indeed emerged in the region's highlands 3,000 years ago

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]]> Unearthed in last-ditch dig, one-of-a-kind tomb offers glimpse of Assyrian rule over Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/unearthed-in-last-ditch-dig-one-of-a-kind-tomb-offers-glimpse-of-assyrian-rule-over-israel/ Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:36:04 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3680950 Newly published findings from salvage dig near Afula detail discovery of burial pits where high official's remains may have been interred along with dozens of opulent and rare artifacts

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]]> Jerusalem’s ‘cursed’ antiquity museum reopens its doors amid rumors it may become a hotel https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalems-cursed-antiquity-museum-reopens-its-doors-amid-rumors-it-may-become-a-hotel/ Sat, 13 Dec 2025 07:34:39 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3699246 The Rockefeller Archaeological Museum stores some 60,000 artifacts spanning millennia, including unique decorations from the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

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