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Dec 12 Blog

Hezekiah’s Religious Reform—In the Bible and Archaeology

By: David Rafael Moulis

According to the Hebrew Bible, Hezekiah “removed the high places, broke down the pillars and cut down the sacred pole” (2 Kings 18:4). What was Hezekiah’s religious reform like on the ground, and what were his motives?

Aug 4 Blog

How Bad Was the Babylonian Exile?

By: BAS Staff

Was there really weeping from the Judahite exiles by the rivers of Babylon? New evidence suggests that life was actually pretty good for some Judahite deportees and their successors.

May 5 Blog

Hanging Gardens of Babylon … in Assyrian Nineveh

By: Noah Wiener

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon may not be Babylonian after all—they may have been 300 miles to the north at Assyrian Nineveh, planted by Sennacherib at the start of the seventh century B.C.E.

Apr 25 Blog

Ancient Jerusalem: The Village, the Town, the City

By: Hershel Shanks

Archaeologist Hillel Geva says that population estimates for ancient Jerusalem are too high. His new estimates begin with people living on no more than a dozen acres.

Apr 13 Blog

Fruit in the Bible

By: David Moster

Seeds and fruit remains are exciting discoveries for archaeologists, and they provide radiocarbon data to help date buried strata. Fruit also plays an important role in the Biblical narrative.

Dec 7 Blog

Joseph and Esarhaddon of Assyria

By: Megan Sauter

Because of his jealous brothers, Esarhaddon had to leave Nineveh and take refuge elsewhere. The pattern of jealous brothers, exile and eventual success is also seen in the Biblical story of Joseph.

Sep 22 Blog

Ancient Clay Tablet Offers Insights into the Gilgamesh Epic

By: Robin Ngo

An ancient clay tablet acquired in recent years by the Sulaymaniyah Museum in Iraq offers new insights into the Gilgamesh Epic.

May 13 Blog

Israelite Kings Depicted in Ancient Art?

By: Noah Wiener

Has archaeology uncovered portraits of two Israelite kings? One contender is on the famous Black Obelisk from Nimurd/Calah, but scholars differ about the identification. Another more recent candidate for an Israelite king’s portrait is an image from a wall at Kuntillet ‘Ajrud, a remote site in the Sinai desert.

Nov 10 Blog

Trove of Assyrian Clay Tablets Unearthed in Iraqi Kurdistan

By: Samuel Pfister

Archaeologists working at a Bronze Age site in Iraqi Kurdistan discovered a trove of Assyrian clay tablets. Many of the tablets had been stored in a ceramic vessel, perhaps for safekeeping.

Apr 7 Blog

The Roman House and the Neo-Assyrian Empire: Two D.C.-Area Lectures

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

The Washington, D.C.-area Biblical Archaeology Society of Northern Virginia and Biblical Archaeology Forum will be hosting the lectures “Theatrical Scenes in Roman Houses” (April 12, 2015) and “Extreme Violence Under the Neo-Assyrian Empire” (April 23, 2015) this month.

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