‘Important and Exciting’ Ritual Bath Dating to Jesus’ Time Discovered Near Mount of Olives, Gethsemane

‘Important and Exciting’ Ritual Bath Dating to Jesus’ Time Discovered Near Mount of Olives, Gethsemane

JERUSALEM — The Israel Antiquities Authority has announced the discovery of a Second Temple-era ritual bath near what has been believed to be the site of the Mount of Olives, appearing to confirm that the location is indeed where Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Up until now, there had not been any archaeological […]

Clay Seal Bought From Antiquities Dealer Believed to Have Belonged to Servant of Biblical King Jeroboam II

Clay Seal Bought From Antiquities Dealer Believed to Have Belonged to Servant of Biblical King Jeroboam II

BEERSHEBA, Israel — A clay seal that was purchased from an antiquities dealer in the 1980’s and was tested for its authenticity is believed to have belonged to a servant of the biblical king Jeroboam II. “This bulla is one of the earliest, if not the earliest, inscribed bulla in the Land of Israel,” Ben-Gurion […]

Stone Weight Used in Commerce During First Temple Period Discovered Near Western Wall in Jerusalem

Stone Weight Used in Commerce During First Temple Period Discovered Near Western Wall in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM — A limestone weight that dates to the First Temple era and may have been used in marketplace commerce or for the acquirement of animals to sacrifice was recently discovered in Jerusalem during a soil sift from an excavation near the Western Wall. The weight, inscribed with a symbol representing the word “shekel,” was […]

Stone Capitals From a ‘Royal Estate’ During First Temple Period Unearthed in Israel

Stone Capitals From a ‘Royal Estate’ During First Temple Period Unearthed in Israel

JERUSALEM — Stone capitals and window frames from a “royal estate” dating sometime between the reign of King Hezekiah and King Josiah (600-700 B.C.) were recently unearthed during an excavation on the Armon Hanatziv (Commissioner’s Palace) Promenade, south of Old City Jerusalem. “A rare, impressive, and very special collection of several dozen adorned architectural stone artifacts, […]

Stamp and Seal Impression Found in Jerusalem Point to Restoration of City During Times of Ezra, Nehemiah

Stamp and Seal Impression Found in Jerusalem Point to Restoration of City During Times of Ezra, Nehemiah

JERUSALEM — An excavation in Jerusalem Walls National Park that yielded a rare stamp and seal impression dating back to the Persian era is stated to provide evidence for the restoration of Jerusalem during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah, as chronicled in the Scriptures. “The finding of the stamp and seal impression in the […]

Federal Authorities Announce Forfeiture of Ancient Gilgamesh Tablet From Museum of the Bible

Federal Authorities Announce Forfeiture of Ancient Gilgamesh Tablet From Museum of the Bible

(NBC News) — Federal authorities announced the forfeiture Monday of an ancient tablet inscribed with part of the Epic of Gilgamesh from a museum backed by the arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby. The piece, known as the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, bearing a version of what’s considered perhaps the world’s oldest work of literature, was […]

Freedom From Religion Foundation Lodges Complaint Against Teacher for ‘Undermining Theory of Evolution’

Freedom From Religion Foundation Lodges Complaint Against Teacher for ‘Undermining Theory of Evolution’

HOLLAND PATENT, N.Y. — A school district in New York says that it has addressed a public high school biology teacher — who has agreed to comply — after it received a complaint from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) that the teacher recently “undermin[ed] the theory of evolution” to students. FFRF sent a […]