Dec 31
By: Megan Sauter
In ancient Israel, were gluttony and drunkenness—excessive eating and drinking—viewed as acceptable behaviors? As it turns out, the answer is somewhat complicated. On the one […]
Dec 29
By: Jonathan Laden
Near the modern Gethsemane Church, at the foot of the Mount of Olives, excavations have revealed the remains of a Second Temple period mikveh (ritual […]
Dec 16
By: John Gregory Drummond
Many names come to mind when someone mentions the great “villains” of the Bible. Some are foreign powers, like the Pharaoh of the Exodus or […]
Dec 12
By: Hershel Shanks
In BAR, Hershel Shanks examines a recent article published by archaeologist Amihai Mazar. Mazar contends that while the Biblical narratives were written hundreds of years after the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon, they “retain memories of reality.”
Dec 2
By: Jonathan Laden
A new virtual exhibition, Daily Life in an Ancient Judean Town, has been announced by the Badè Museum of Biblical Archaeology. It promises to cover […]
Nov 20
By: Jonathan Laden
Judahite Shrine of Tel Arad from 8th century B.C.E. has residue of cannabis and of frankincense
Nov 19
By: Jonathan Laden
Four ancient gold coins were found during an excavation in the Old City of Jerusalem. They were from the late 940s to 970s C.E., a […]
Nov 10
By: Ellen White
Who is Asherah? What is asherah? The reference may be to a particular goddess, a class of goddess or a cult symbol used to represent the goddess. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish what meaning is intended.
Nov 8
By: Jonathan Laden
Clay objects and dozens of jars were found in what had been a water hole at the Khirbet Kafr Mer site in Beit El, on […]
Oct 8
By: Jonathan Laden
An archaeological salvage dig found the remains of a Jewish farmstead from the Second Temple period, around the time of Jesus. Researchers are confident the […]