When Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C.E., the Ptolemaic dynasty was given control of Egypt. Ptolemy I (c. 367–283 B.C.E.) established his capital at Alexandria and immediately began to Read more…
Biblical Archaeology Places
Biblical archaeology places include countries such as Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Greece, and geographical regions such as Galilee, Judah and Samaria, that are related to the Bible.
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The Ancient Library of Alexandria
• 03/12/2019
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Anastylosis at Machaerus, Where John the Baptist Was Beheaded
• 01/06/2019
Győző Vörös details the restoration work taking place at Machaerus—giving archaeological context to the New Testament episode featuring Princess Salome and John the Baptist. Read more…
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Biblical Riot at Ephesus: The Archaeological Context
• 01/04/2019
How accurate is Luke’s account of the riot at Ephesus described in Acts 19:23–41? Excavations at the site bring this Biblical event to reality in a new way—from inscriptions and Read more…
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Baptismal Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” Added to UNESCO World Heritage List
• 09/29/2018
In 2015, UNESCO added the archaeological complex at Al-Maghtas, Jordan—called the Biblical “Bethany beyond the Jordan”—to its World Heritage List. Another tradition places the baptismal site on the west bank Read more…
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Wilderness Wanderings: Where is Kadesh?
• 09/26/2018
According to the Bible, the Israelites stayed at a place called Kadesh-Barnea following their Exodus from Egypt and wanderings through the desert. Where is Kadesh-Barnea? Read more…
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Condemned to Mine Copper
• 07/19/2018
Sending condemned prisoners to mine copper in the Faynan in present-day Jordan was a popular form of early Christian persecution in the Roman Empire. Read more…
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Where Did Jesus Turn Water into Wine?
• 04/28/2018
Where did Jesus turn water into wine? According to archaeologist Tom McCollough in “Searching for Cana: Where Jesus Turned Water into Wine” in BAR, one site offers the most compelling Read more…
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Tour Showcases Remains of Herod’s Jerusalem Palace—Possible Site of the Trial of Jesus
• 03/20/2018
Visitors to Jerusalem’s Old City can explore remains of King Herod’s palace, which may be where Roman governor Pontius Pilate tried and condemned Jesus of Nazareth to death. Read more…
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The Fishy Secret to Ancient Magdala’s Economic Growth
• 08/09/2016
Historical sources say that the export of salted fish at Magdala was so successful that it soon became a self-sustaining town. What does the archaeology reveal? Read more…
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Face of the Greek God Pan
• 10/12/2015
Excavations at Hippos (Sussita) recovered an enormous bronze mask, most likely depicting the Greek god Pan. Too large and heavy to have been worn as a theater mask, what purpose Read more…
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The Cave of Elijah the Prophet under Threat?
• 09/23/2015
The Cave of Elijah the Prophet in Israel faces the threat that its inscriptions may be defaced or destroyed by modern visitors who crowd into it daily. Read more…
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Canaanite Religion at Tel Burna
• 08/23/2015
A mysterious building has been unearthed at Tel Burna in Israel—and it could be a temple for Canaanite religion. Read more…
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Iron Age Gate and Fortifications Uncovered at Philistine Gath
• 08/10/2015
Remains of the monumental city gate and fortifications of Iron Age Gath—home of the Biblical giant Goliath—were uncovered in excavations at Tell es-Safi in central Israel. Read more…
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Hippos-Sussita Excavations Unearth Rare Pan Mask
• 03/19/2015
Archaeologists working at Hippos-Sussita on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel have unearthed a rare bronze mask of Pan. Read more…
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Bethsaida Excavations Reveal Possible Royal Escape Tunnel
• 01/16/2015
An escape tunnel may have been identified underneath the Iron Age palace at Bethsaida. Read more…
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Hippos-Sussita: The High Horse of the Decapolis
• 11/24/2014
Excavations at the dramatic site of Hippos-Sussita overlooking the Sea of Galilee have brought a Hellenistic Decapolis city back to life. Read more…
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The Starbucks Guide to Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology
• 10/21/2014
Tourists buy a variety of souvenirs when visiting new places. Author Mark Wilson usually brings home only one thing—Starbucks mugs featuring archaeological sites. Read more…
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Proto-Aeolic Capital Associated with Judah’s Longest Spring Tunnel
• 05/01/2014
A one-of-a-kind proto-aeolic capital still attached to its base is associated with a 525-foot-long tunnel system, the largest and most impressively hewn spring tunnel in the region. Read more…
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Not Fit for a King?
• 10/23/2013
Two Israeli archaeologists suggest that Herod’s tomb from Herodium, on display at the Israel Museum, may not have belonged to the megalomaniac king. Read more…
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The Tomb of Pharaoh’s Daughter
• 01/30/2013
Archaeologist Gabriel Barkay investigates the question—who was buried in the Tomb of Pharaoh’s Daughter? Read more…
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Researchers Find Earliest Depiction of Egyptian Pharaoh
• 12/06/2012
Yale University researchers studying a long forgotten rock art panel northwest of Aswan in Egypt believe they may have discovered the earliest known depiction of an Egyptian ruler. Read more…
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Did Climate Change Bring Sumerian Civilization to an End?
• 12/05/2012
A geologist with the Byrd Polar Research Center believes that more than 200 years of excessive drought may have doomed the Sumerians, one of the world’s first complex civilizations whose Read more…
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Saving the Jordan River
• 10/03/2012
The Jordan River is the setting of some of the Bible’s most iconic scenes. A visit to the river, however, reveals a different landscape from the Biblical depictions. Read more…
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A “Jesus Hideout” in Jordan
• 09/05/2012
Biblical Scholar James Tabor examines the setting of some of the Jesus’ final excursions before his crucifixion. Read more…
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Scorched Wheat May Provide Answers on the Destruction of Canaanite Tel Hazor
• 07/24/2012
The recent discovery of scorched wheat at Canaanite Tel Hazor may shed new light on the destruction of one of Israel’s most prominent sites. The discovery of large jugs containing Read more…
