BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

Top 10 Biblical Archaeology Discoveries in 2014

Check out the archaeological finds that thrilled us this past year

The so-called Ark Tablet, an Old Babylonian (1900-1700 B.C.E.) account of the flood, was translated by British Museum scholar Irving Finkel.

The so-called Ark Tablet, an Old Babylonian (1900-1700 B.C.E.) account of the flood, was translated by British Museum scholar Irving Finkel.

From the translation of a Babylonian “Ark Tablet” to the resurfacing of a skeleton from Ur in a museum basement, 2014 was a year full of exciting Biblical archaeology discoveries and new interpretations. As we ring in the New Year, let’s take a look back at the top 10 finds that thrilled us in 2014.

**The stories below are listed in no particular order and are free to read in Bible History Daily**

The Animals Went in Two by Two, According to Babylonian Ark Tablet
An Old Babylonian flood tablet translated by British Museum scholar Irving Finkel describes how to build a circular ark.

Qumran Phylacteries Reveal Nine New Dead Sea Scrolls
Yonatan Adler’s work revealed new phylacteries containing unopened tefillin Dead Sea Scrolls texts, confirming a continuity of Jewish practice over the past two millennia.

Canaanite Fortress Discovered in the City of David
An enormous 18th-century B.C.E. structure that isolates and protects the Gihon Spring is believed to be the fortress described in the Book of Samuel that King David later conquered.

Huqoq 2014: Update from the Field
Huqoq excavation director Jodi Magness and mosaics specialist Karen Britt discuss a new mosaic that might depict the legendary meeting between Alexander the Great and the Jewish high priest.

Monumental Entryway to King Herod’s Palace at Herodium Excavated
Archaeologists excavating at Herodium National Park uncovered a massive corridor to King Herod’s hilltop palace-fortress.

Coins Celebrating the Great Revolt Against the Romans Unearthed near Jerusalem
Excavations near Jerusalem uncovered a rare hoard of coins dating to the fourth year of the Great Revolt against the Romans (69/70 C.E.).

Oldest Metal Object from the Southern Levant Discovered
The discovery of a 7,000-year-old copper awl at Tel Tsaf suggests that metal was used in the southern Levant several hundred years earlier than previously thought.

Early Bronze Age: Megiddo’s Great Temple and the Birth of Urban Culture in the Levant
Megiddo’s Great Temple is a structure that, according to its excavators, “has proven to be the most monumental single edifice so far uncovered in the EB I Levant and ranks among the largest structures of its time in the Near East.”

Skilled Craftsmen, Not Slaves, Smelted Copper at Timna
Scholars suggest that ancient metalworkers in the Timna Valley were not slaves, as popularly believed, but highly skilled craftsmen.

6,500-Year-Old Ur Skeleton Resurfaces in Penn Museum
A skeleton unearthed from an Ubaid-period (5500–4000 B.C.E.) grave at Ur was recently rediscovered in the basement of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.


Our free eBook Ten Top Biblical Archaeology Discoveries brings together the exciting worlds of archaeology and the Bible! Learn the fascinating insights gained from artifacts and ruins, like the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem, where the Gospel of John says Jesus miraculously restored the sight of the blind man, and the Tel Dan inscription—the first historical evidence of King David outside the Bible.


Encore! Take a look at more stories that made a splash in 2014:

LBA coffin Jezreel detail

Detail of a 3,300-year-old anthropoid coffin with Egyptianizing features from Tel Shadud. Photo: Clara Amit, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Elite Canaanite Burial Discovered in the Jezreel Valley

The Philistines in Jordan

Childhood in Roman Egypt

Johnny Applesea: New studies suggest Neolithic farmers sailed to Europe

Zeugma Excavations Reveal New Mosaics

Rare Inscription Dedicated to Hadrian Found in Jerusalem

Prehistoric Parasite Bloomed with Mesopotamian Farming

Camel Domestication History Challenges Biblical Narrative

2,800-Year-Old Farmhouse Discovered in Israel

Judaea Capta Coin Uncovered in Bethsaida Excavations

1,600-Year-Old Bracelet Stamped with Menorah Motifs Uncovered in Dig

Unraveling Mummy Mysteries at Tulane

Ancient Chisel Unearthed at the Western Wall

Hanging Gardens of Babylon … in Assyrian Nineveh

Cats in Ancient Egypt

The Fourth-Century Earthquake that Rocked Galilee


Want more? Check out the top archaeological discoveries in 2012, 2013 and 2015.


Think we’ve missed something or want to offer your own top 10 list? Share your thoughts in the discussion section below!

Tags: ancient egypt Ancient Israel ancient near Antiquities antiquities authority archaeological archaeological discoveries archaeological finds archaeologist archaeologists Archaeology archaeology and the bible Archaeology Discoveries archaeology sites archaeology today ark tablet babylonian ark bethsaida Bible bible history bible history daily Biblical biblical arch Biblical Archaeology Biblical Archaeology Discoveries Biblical Archaeology Sites Biblical Archaeology Topics Biblical Artifacts biblical sites biblical topics biblicalarchaeology biblicalarchaeology.org bronze age camel domestication camel domestication history cats in ancient egypt city of david daily life and practice dead sea dead sea scroll Dead Sea Scrolls dead sea scrolls qumran dead sea scrolls text dead sea scrolls texts early bronze age evidence of king david flood tablet gardens of babylon gihon spring gospel of john hadrian hanging gardens hanging gardens of babylon hebrew Hebrew Bible herod herod's palace herodium herods historical evidence of king david huqoq Israel Antiquities Authority jerusalem jerusalem ancient Jesus jezreel jodi magness judaea capta king david king herod new dead sea scrolls nineveh philistines pool of siloam qumran samuel sea scroll sea scrolls siloam tel dan Tel Dan Inscription Temple at Jerusalem Ten Top Biblical Archaeology Discoveries the animals went in two by two the city of david the gospel of the gospel of john the philistines the pool of siloam the tel dan inscription top 10 archaeological finds top biblical archaeology discoveries western wall www.biblicalarchaeology.org zeugma excavations

8 Responses

  1. Quora says:

    Was Solomon truly the sage of all sages?

    Absolutely. There is clear archeological evidence for the historicity of many, though not all, Old Testament figures and events. Read Kenneth R. Kitchen’s On The Reliability of the New Testament for a thorough scholarly treatment by the world’s forem…

  2. Agent76 says:

    JESUS’ “CROWN OF THORNS” SHOWN AT NOTRE DAME Mar. 21, 2014

    PARIS (AP) — An ancient relic that many Christians revere as Jesus Christ’s “Crown of Thorns” has made a special public appearance at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

    The crown — a circular band of branches encased in a gilded, golden tube — is being displayed for three days to mark the 800th anniversary of the birthday and christening of King Louis IX of France, who acquired it in 1239. The relic was first mentioned by Jerusalem pilgrims in the 5th century and was transferred to Constantinople in the 10th century.

    http://bigstory.ap.org/article/jesus-crown-thorns-shown-notre-dame

  3. Recent Resources, Books and Articles of Interest for Ancient Studies and Scripture | Heavenly Ascents says:

    […] Top Ten Biblical Archaeology Discoveries in 2014 […]

  4. Top Ten Biblical Archaeology Discoveries of 2014 | The Olive Branch Report says:

    […] circular ark and Herod’s gate—are also found on the Biblical Archaeology Society’s top 10 list for 2014. CT also covered its list of top 10 finds in 2013 and has reported on the coin that may […]

  5. Vridar » Archaelogical Finds 2014 — But Beware Christians Bearing Gifts says:

    […] a similar list at Bible History Daily, Top 10 Biblical Archaeology Discoveries in 2014 by Robin Ngo. This one has more interesting graphics for the Noah’s ark story here. And it […]

  6. Bruce Chapman says:

    Any Book of Mormon Archeology? ha ha

  7. Shreknangst says:

    Ignores the revelation about the Huge Ages of the Patriarchs in Genesis, or the reason why our year one is fixed where it is — allegedly related to birth of Jesus it is off by seven years if related to Herod the Great (who died in 4 bce, at 2-3 years after they went to Egypt, which was 2-3 years after the birth); six years if based on the Galilee Census in 6AD. The two extremes being separated by a span of roughly 13 years.
    That was covered in the book “Genesis of Genesis” {Amazon Genesis-William-Lawrence-Lipton/dp/1466459565 }

Write a Reply or Comment

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8 Responses

  1. Quora says:

    Was Solomon truly the sage of all sages?

    Absolutely. There is clear archeological evidence for the historicity of many, though not all, Old Testament figures and events. Read Kenneth R. Kitchen’s On The Reliability of the New Testament for a thorough scholarly treatment by the world’s forem…

  2. Agent76 says:

    JESUS’ “CROWN OF THORNS” SHOWN AT NOTRE DAME Mar. 21, 2014

    PARIS (AP) — An ancient relic that many Christians revere as Jesus Christ’s “Crown of Thorns” has made a special public appearance at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

    The crown — a circular band of branches encased in a gilded, golden tube — is being displayed for three days to mark the 800th anniversary of the birthday and christening of King Louis IX of France, who acquired it in 1239. The relic was first mentioned by Jerusalem pilgrims in the 5th century and was transferred to Constantinople in the 10th century.

    http://bigstory.ap.org/article/jesus-crown-thorns-shown-notre-dame

  3. Recent Resources, Books and Articles of Interest for Ancient Studies and Scripture | Heavenly Ascents says:

    […] Top Ten Biblical Archaeology Discoveries in 2014 […]

  4. Top Ten Biblical Archaeology Discoveries of 2014 | The Olive Branch Report says:

    […] circular ark and Herod’s gate—are also found on the Biblical Archaeology Society’s top 10 list for 2014. CT also covered its list of top 10 finds in 2013 and has reported on the coin that may […]

  5. Vridar » Archaelogical Finds 2014 — But Beware Christians Bearing Gifts says:

    […] a similar list at Bible History Daily, Top 10 Biblical Archaeology Discoveries in 2014 by Robin Ngo. This one has more interesting graphics for the Noah’s ark story here. And it […]

  6. Bruce Chapman says:

    Any Book of Mormon Archeology? ha ha

  7. Shreknangst says:

    Ignores the revelation about the Huge Ages of the Patriarchs in Genesis, or the reason why our year one is fixed where it is — allegedly related to birth of Jesus it is off by seven years if related to Herod the Great (who died in 4 bce, at 2-3 years after they went to Egypt, which was 2-3 years after the birth); six years if based on the Galilee Census in 6AD. The two extremes being separated by a span of roughly 13 years.
    That was covered in the book “Genesis of Genesis” {Amazon Genesis-William-Lawrence-Lipton/dp/1466459565 }

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