Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

Israel Finkelstein

An aerial view of the Ein Hatzeva archaeological site south of the Dead Sea in an undated picture. A new study published in the journal Levant on April 27, 2026, suggests that the ancient fortress at the site was built by the biblical kingdom of Israel in the first half of the 8th century BCE and not by the Assyrian empire as previously thought. (Asaf Peretz/ Israel Antiquities Authority)
May 16, 2026, 7:51 am
How ancient seeds are rewriting the history of biblical-era trade with Arabia
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
By Rossella Tercatin
The archaeological site of el-Ahwat, roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Caesarea, in September 2024. (Aaron Lipkin)
August 26, 2025, 1:07 pm
Were King David’s Israelites the first Startup Nation? Bronze bonanza spotlights tech skills
Earliest evidence of bronze production in Southern Levant from 3,000 years ago indicates use of local copper from Arava desert, possibly during United Monarchy of Judah and Israel
By Rossella Tercatin
A close view of the trephination procedure discovered at Tel Megiddo in northern Israel and the piece of the skull that was removed. (courtesy Rachel Kalisher)
February 24, 2023, 3:05 pm
Square hole in an ancient skull: Middle East’s earliest brain surgery found in Israel
Over 3,500 years ago, two brothers from an upper-class family survived with serious illness, and one underwent the radical procedure of trephination, discovery at Megiddo reveals
By Melanie Lidman
Remains of tools discovered in Jerusalem's City of David within a layer of destruction from the 8th century BCE, which coincided with a massive earthquake mentioned in the Bible. The tools were likely shattered during the quake. (Eliyahu Yanai/ City of David)
August 4, 2021, 2:34 pm
Archaeologists unearth 1st Jerusalem evidence of quake from Bible’s Book of Amos
8th century BCE tremblors recorded by biblical prophet get new proof from current excavations in the City of David; scholars hope it will help them crack the city’s timeline
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar and several of her prominent finds. (Hebrew University/Ouria Tadmor)
May 26, 2021, 8:22 pm
Fearless pioneering biblical archaeologist Eilat Mazar dies at 64
Hebrew University scholar who unearthed ‘King David’s palace’ leaves a lasting contribution to the understanding of the archaeology and history of ancient Israel and Jerusalem
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Destruction to a low stone early Iron Age wall at the Mount Ebal archaeological site, January 31, 2021. (Courtesy, Shomrim Al Hanetzach)
February 22, 2021, 12:11 pm
Settlers take on West Bank archaeology as ancient ‘Joshua’ wall tumbles down
Destruction of barrier at Iron Age Israelite cultic site deep in PA-controlled Area B creates media maelstrom, as right-wing campaign claims Palestinians destroying heritage sites
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Illustrative: A young devotee, face smeared with turmeric powder, participates in a procession towards Golconda Fort during Bonalu festival in Hyderabad, India, July 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
December 22, 2020, 11:53 am
‘Globalized’ early Bronze Age Levantines consumed exotic Asian nosh, study shows
Analysis of dental tartar from skeletons excavated at Megiddo and Tel Erani shows first evidence in region from 2nd millennium BCE of foods such as bananas, soy beans, turmeric
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
'Great Royal Visit,' March 8, 1929. L-to-r: P.L.O. Guy (above), A. Murray Dryer, David Rockefeller, Geoffrey Shpton, Mary 'Tod' Clarck, Edward DeLoach, Robert Lamon, Abby Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., James Henry Breasted, Harry Parker, unidentified fez-wearer. (courtesy Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago)
October 7, 2020, 4:58 pm
Digging at Armageddon: Tumultuous saga of doomed search for Solomon’s Lost City
LISTEN: Author Prof. Eric Cline excavates mounds of archives to paint colorful picture of cast of characters at 1920s-1930s Megiddo dig during field of archaeology’s infancy
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Examples of Hebrew ostraca from Arad. (Michael Cordonsky, Tel Aviv University and the Israel Antiquities Authority)
September 9, 2020, 9:07 pm
Police forensics join AI algorithms to track down who wrote the Bible, and when
An unprecedented Tel Aviv University study combines human handwriting know-how with cutting-edge computer science to analyze literacy of Judahites in 7th century BCE Arad
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Illustrative: Burial of individual analyzed in the Canaanite study, from about 1600 BC. (Dr. Claude Doumet-Serhal/Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)
May 28, 2020, 6:06 pm
How the Canaanites, Biblical frenemies of the Israelites, kept genetic integrity
Major study shows Canaanites maintained coherent genetic mix even though they were widely dispersed, and it can still be discerned in modern Arabic-speaking and Jewish populations
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Example of Samaria ostraca: No. 14: 'In the year ni[ne] from Az[…]t Par'an to Shemaryau jar of aged wine'(Courtesy Tel Aviv University)
January 22, 2020, 10:30 pm
Illiterate Israelites? Hi-tech review of ancient sherds suggests few scribes
Multi-disciplinary Tel Aviv University study uses new image processing and computer learning techniques to reexamine large cache of paleo-Hebrew ostraca from 8th century BCE
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Dr. Yehuda Govrin, director of the excavations at Tel Beit Shemesh, March 17, 2019. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/Times of Israel)
March 21, 2019, 12:33 pm
In Beit Shemesh, new highway collides with surprise biblical-era settlement
Unusual exhibit at Jerusalem’s Bible Lands Museum, ‘Highway to History,’ examines the State of Israel’s fraught attempts to balance preserving the past and developing the future
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
In the upper terrace at Kiriath-jearim, a massive wall was unearthed some 15 cm below topsoil. The site is said to have hosted to Ark of the Covenant (Shmunis Family Excavations at Kiriath-jearim)
January 10, 2019, 8:05 pm
Biblical site tied to Ark of the Covenant unearthed at convent in central Israel
Excavation uncovers a unique, monumental structure previously unknown in the region. Was it a shrine — or the site of David’s triumphant parade of the legendary ark?
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Prof. Sturt Manning coring an example multi-century old Juniperus phoenicea tree near Petra in southern Jordan of the type employed in the Taybet Zaman buildings. (Sturt Manning, Cornell University)
June 7, 2018, 6:20 pm
Upstart carbon dating study could force rewrite of Holy Land’s biblical timeline
Cornell University prof shows how archaeologists’ data could be skewed by decades — potentially disproving the narrative of David and Solomon’s United Monarchy
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
A 1951 image of the Hebrew University's Prof. Eleazar Sukenik with one of the Dead Sea Scrolls. (Department of Archaeology, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem - National Library of Israel, Schwadron collection)
April 19, 2018, 7:50 am
ToI asks the experts: What are the most important finds of Israeli archaeology?
From Dead Sea Scrolls to space-age tech, the dramatic history of the ever-developing field is indelibly entwined with that of the nation itself
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Load More

Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community

Sign in or Register

Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Sign in or Register
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.