Jar Handle, 13th century BCE

Jar Handle, 13th century BCE   A handle from a Late Bronze Age store jar (13th century BCE) containing three incised letters in Proto-Canaanite script, the earliest known alphabet. Found during the 1976 pilot season at Tell Halif. “How a Dig Begins,” BAR Jun...

The Nimrud Prism, 720 BCE

The Nimrud Prism, 720 BCE   The Re-population of Samaria”I repopulated Sameria more than before. I brought into it people from countries conquered by my hands. I appointed my eunuch as governor over them. And I counted them as Assyrians.” “The king of...

House of Ahiel, 586 BCE

House of Ahiel, 586 BCE   Hebrew University professor Yigal Shiloh uncovered a house in the City of David opposite the Kidron Valley. It is the most complete house excavated to date within the city. It is known as the House of Ahiel because it contained a pottery...

The Lakhish Ewer, c. 1220 BCE

The Lakhish Ewer, c. 1220 BCE   The Lakhish (Lachish) ewer, discovered by James L. Starkey in a rubbish heap outside a temple at Lakhish. Dates to about 1220 BCE, the time when scholars believe the Israelites were first emerging in Canaan. Found in 1934....

Moabite Stone, c. 840 BCE

Moabite Stone, c. 840 BCE   The First Mention of the God of Israel YHWH — “Omri was the king of Israel, and he oppressed Moab… And…I took the vessels of YHWHI am Mesha, son of Kemosh[-yatti], the king of Moab, the Dibonite. My father was...