Revealing the Bible’s Secrets: Five Key Archaeological Discoveries

One of the readers asked me to write about a few ancient discoveries, so I put together a quick list that may satisfy her request.

Of course, these are just a few examples:

1. The Dead Sea Scrolls: In 2011, the Israel Antiquities Authority launched a digital library of the Dead Sea Scrolls, allowing scholars and the public to access high-resolution images of the ancient texts online. If you missed it, I also wrote about this document that is older than the scrolls.
2. The King David Era Inscription: In 2012, archaeologists discovered an inscription dating back to the time of King David at a site in southern Israel. The inscription mentions a "King of Israel" and provides evidence for the existence of a centralized kingdom during the time of King David.
3. The City of David Excavations: Since 2010, ongoing excavations at the City of David in Jerusalem have uncovered numerous artifacts and structures dating back to biblical times, including the remains of King David's palace and a massive water system.
4. The Shema Seal: In 2015, archaeologists discovered a small seal in Jerusalem inscribed with the word "Shema," a reference to the Shema prayer found in the Torah. The seal dates back to the 7th century BCE and provides evidence for the practice of Judaism during the First Temple period.
5. The Pilgrimage Road: In 2019, archaeologists announced the discovery of a 2,000-year-old road in Jerusalem believed to have been used by Jewish pilgrims visiting the Temple. The road connects the Pool of Siloam with the Temple Mount and provides insight into the daily life and religious practices of ancient Jerusalem.

These discoveries offer new insights into the history and culture of the biblical period and help to deepen our understanding of the texts and traditions that continue to shape our world today.

InscriptionsPhoto byHistory Extra

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