MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS

Biblical Archaeology Review, Spring 2021

Take a pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the revered site of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection, in the Spring 2021 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. Readers get a look at the church’s history and tradition in light of new archaeological research. Then explore how Jewish ritual purity concerns found their expression in stone vessels and stepped pools in Roman Palestine. Travel back in time to Iron Age Israel by visiting the site of ‘Auja el-Foqa, a fortress on ancient Israel’s eastern frontier. Step further back in history, to Bronze Age Syria, and peruse fashion at the site of Ebla. You can also investigate the role of sweat in the Garden of Eden, the pandemic origins of child baptism, Jesus’s writing on the Temple floor, the Upper Room, Masada’s history, and ancient Judahite figurines. Finally, the Spring 2021 issue features our annual Digs guide with excavation opportunities for 2021. Pull out your trowels and dig into biblical history!

Visit us online, at Bible History Daily, to see the latest news in biblical archaeology or delve into additional articles, eBooks, and videos about key Bible and archaeology topics. To continue your study of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, take a look at a detailed plan of the church. Then explore a Special Collection of articles from BAR and Bible Review related to Easter. Enjoy our free eBook Digs 2021 to see excavation opportunities for 2021 and to learn about the pandemic’s impact on excavations in 2020. Information, both about opportunities and restrictions due to ongoing health concerns, will be updated on our Digs page as we receive it. Finally, explore the BAS Library, which features every article ever published in BAR, Bible Review, and Archaeology Odyssey, as well as Special Collections of articles curated by BAS editors.

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Features

The Holy Sepulchre in History, Archaeology, and Tradition

By Justin L. Kelley

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is revered as the site of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. BAR readers get a look at the church’s history and tradition in light of new archaeological research.

Facing the Facts About the “Face of God”

By Yonatan Adler

Stepped pools and chalk vessels in Roman Palestine are best interpreted as a reflection of Jewish concerns over the Pentateuchal ritual purity laws. Although this notion has been challenged, there is enough evidence to prove the religious motivation of the two archaeological phenomena.

Archive Discovered Under Maresha

By Alfonso Archi

In ancient Syria, clothes served as protection, status markers, and gifts for diplomacy. See the variety of clothing—from robes to skirts—at ancient Ebla.

Gluttony and Drunkenness in Ancient Israel

By David Ben-Shlomo and Ralph K. Hawkins

Overlooking the Jordan Valley and Jericho, the site of ‘Auja el-Foqa stood on ancient Israel’s eastern frontier. Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an Israelite or Judahite fortress. Have they found biblical Na‘arah?

Departments

Strata

A Capital Discovery
History on Hayehudim Street
Who Did It?
In Situ
Test Kitchen: Doughnuts for All
Digs 2021: Digging During a Pandemic
On Data and Its Interpretation
Site-Seeing: The Other Upper Room
Milestone: James A. Sanders
Archaeology Argot: situla
Book Review: Masada—Myth and History
Worldwide

Epistles

The Garden of Eden: Don’t Sweat it!
The Pandemic Origins of Child Baptism
What’s in a Name?: Antipas
The Writing on the Floor
A Thousand Words: Sanaa Pentateuch
Bible Threads: resurrection

Plus

First Person: And Now for Something Completely Different
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