Biblical Archaeology Review

02/27/2025

Sacred Prostitution in the Story of Judah and Tamar

Sacred prostitution was common throughout the ancient world. But was the story of Judah and Tamar a case of sacred prostitution?

02/26/2025

What is the purpose of this box?

Chalk vessels were a common feature of Judean life in the late Second Temple period, but what could have been the purpose of this strange box?

02/26/2025

Millions of cuneiform tablets remain untranslated and more are being discovered every year. With a limited number of scholars capable of translating them, the knowledge within them remains locked away. With new technologies that may not be the case for long.

The AI program has already added details to more than 100 lines of the Epic of Gilgamesh and thousands of lines from other texts.

02/26/2025

A new book places the decalogue in its Near Eastern context

Timothy Hogue's new book explores the Ten Commandments' roots in ancient Near Eastern "I Am" monuments, offering new translations and interpretations within their geopolitical context.

02/25/2025

The Canonical Gospels

The canonical Gospels have been translated from Greek manuscripts many times. With so many variations, is any one version more accurate than the next?

02/25/2025

Looking to participate in a dig this year? The Biblical Archaeology Society offers dig scholarships of $2,000 each to people who wish to participate in a dig and demonstrate sufficient need. Applications and letters of support are due by Friday, March 21, 2025.
https://bibarch.wufoo.com/forms/r16vtsn41r2u82g/

02/25/2025

Top Biblical Archaeology Discoveries of 2024

Join BAR Editor-in-Chief Glenn Corbett as he reviews 2024’s top archaeological discoveries with Chris McKinny of Gesher Media and Erika Brown of Just So You Know.

02/24/2025

During excavations at Abel Beth Maacah in northern Israel, archaeologists made an unexpected discovery: a large Roman boundary stone, reused as a cover for a late medieval burial.

Measuring more than 3 feet tall, the Abel Beth Maacah stone is one of the largest Roman boundary stones ever discovered.

02/24/2025

Team maps ancient Jerusalem with muon detectors

With excavation limited to narrow parts of the age-old city, archaeologists are often forced to think outside the box to answer their questions.

02/24/2025

Cosmic Rays Empower Archaeology

With excavation limited to narrow parts of the age-old city, archaeologists are often forced to think outside the box to answer their questions.

02/23/2025

Excavations of Jerusalem’s Second Temple drainage channel have revealed fascinating details about the last decades of the flourishing city before its destruction by the Romans in 70 CE.

Excavations of Jerusalem’s Second Temple drainage channel have revealed fascinating details about the last decades of the city before its destruction.

02/22/2025

The “Strange” Ending of the Gospel of Mark and Why It Makes All the Difference

Scholars agree the Gospel of Mark is the earliest–by several decades, which has profound implications for our understanding of the “Jesus story”.

02/21/2025

The Judean Desert played an important role in several biblical and non-biblical events, including as a refuge for David, a place of temptation for Jesus, and the last stand of Jewish rebels against Rome.

Also known as the Wilderness of Judah, the Judean Desert is only mentioned by name a few times in the Bible.

02/21/2025

Experts take stock of the ancient Syrian city

Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, archaeologists and residents have begun to return to the ancient city of Palmyra.

02/20/2025

In a world where supernatural powers might be summoned to circumvent traditional forms of authority, Roman law could be summoned to destroy the practitioners of magic and their books.

Magic books existed in the Roman period and were of concern to authorities. Despite their efforts, however, portions of magic books survive from antiquity.

02/20/2025

Explore the rise of the Maccabees and the growth of their kingdom

Who were the Maccabees and what did they do? Explore the rise of the Maccabees and the growth of their kingdom

02/19/2025

What can these specialists tell us?

Archaeology has gradually become more specialized, with archaeologists seeking to answer ever more minute and complex questions.

02/19/2025

BAS Dig Scholarship winner illustrates Cyprus’s past

Archaeological illustrations are preferred in publications for their greater clarity and ability to reveal details lost in a photograph.