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A rock-hewn altar carved out of limestone located about a mile from Shiloh. The four corners point to the four directions on a compass (Exodus 27:1-2). Photo: Yoel Elitzur

Feb 22 Blog

High Places, Altars and the Bamah

The open-air altar shrine, called a bamah (plural bamot), is known through several books of the Biblical canon. Often referred to as “high places” in translations of the Bible, bamot were worship sites that usually contained an altar.

Feb 15 Blog

First Person: Human Sacrifice to an Ammonite God?

By: Hershel Shanks

Were sons and daughters sacrificed in ancient times? Is there any archaeological evidence?

Jan 30 Blog

The Edomite Stronghold of Sela

By: Glenn J. Corbett

King Amaziah of Judah (c. 801–783 B.C.E.), after having slain nearly 10,000 Edomites in battle near the southern end of the Dead Sea, is said to have thrown another 10,000 captives from the top of nearby Sela.

Dec 31 Blog

Who Were the Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites in the Bible?

By: Megan Sauter

During the Iron Age, when Israel and Judah ruled Canaan, the kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and Edom ruled east of the Jordan River. Recent archaeological discoveries vastly increase our understanding of these kingdoms and their religion.

Oct 27 Blog

Solving the Enigma of Petra and the Nabataeans

By: Glenn J. Corbett

Who were the Nabataeans, the industrious Arab people who built the city of Petra and its towering rock-cut monuments over 2,000 years ago?

Oct 26 Blog

Site-Seeing: Petra’s Temple of the Winged Lions

By: Glenn J. Corbett

A new program led by the American Center of Oriental Research is, for the first time, allowing visitors to go beyond Petra’s monuments to actually discover and experience its past and present.

Sep 3 Blog

53 People in the Bible Confirmed Archaeologically

By: Lawrence Mykytiuk

How many people mentioned in the Hebrew Bible have been confirmed archaeologically? Lawrence Mykytiuk reveals the surprising number—from Israelite kings to Mesopotamian monarchs—and some lesser figures as well.

Sep 22 Blog

Milestones: Bert de Vries (1939-2021)

By: Barbara A. Porter

On March 28, Bert de Vries, long time director of the Umm al Jimal excavations in Jordan and former director of the American Center of […]

Jul 12 Blog

A Virtual Visit to the “City of Mosaics”

By: Nathan Steinmeyer

With many people unable to travel during the past year, archaeological and tourism sites across the Middle East have faced extremely difficult times. The ancient […]

Jun 3 Blog

5 Questions: Meet BAR’s New Editor

By: BAS Staff

Glenn J. Corbett became editor of Biblical Archaeology Review in March, 2021. These 5 questions give an introduction to the man and the archaeologist.

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