Archaeology and Museums

Last updated: June 21, 2008

General Archaeological Resources
Specific Sites from Abila to Ziklah

    Egypt Hazor Jerusalem  Jordan  Masada  Megiddo  Samaria


Museums

General Archaeological Resources

Middle Bronze Age 2200-1550 BCE
Late Bronze Age 1550-1200 BCE
Iron Age I 1200-1000 BCE
Iron Age II 1000-586 BCE
Babylonian Period 586-539 BCE
Persian Period 539-332 BCE
Hellenistic Period 332-141 BCE
Hasmonean Period 141-37 BCE
Roman Period 37 BCE - 324 CE

ABZU:  A guide to the study of the Ancient Near East on the Net.  Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago
Amazing Discoveries in Biblical Archaeology  Large and small sites, Dead Sea Scrolls, Noah's ark
American Center of Oriental Research in Jordan
American Schools of Oriental Research
American Schools of Oriental Research Site Map
Ancient Numismatics on the Web
Anglo Israel Archaeological Society
ArchNet Archaeological Library  Information is categorized by geographic region, subject, museums, journals, etc.
Archaeological Excavations.  A directory of current excavations in Israel on the Bible and Interpretation website.
Archaeological Excavations Relating to Jewish History  Links to key sites
Archaeological Sites in Israel  Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Archaeology and Public Education Newsletter
Archaeology and the Religion of Israel. By William Foxwell Albright. Review by Carl S. Ehrlich in Journal of Hebrew Scriptures.
Archaeology and the Religions of Canaan and Israel.  A book by Beth Alpert Nakhai.
Archaeology, History Writing, and Ancient Israel.  By William Dever for Social-Scientific Study of the Second Temple Period Section, SBL, San Antonio, 2004.
The Archaeology of Hellenistic Palestine: Between Tradition and Renewal. By Oren Tal. Review by Gunnar Lehmann in Journal of Hebrew Scriptures.
"Archaeology" of the Bible and Judaism in Late Antiquity and in the Middle Ages.  By Jeffrey Tigay.  University of Pennsylvania.
The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Excerpts by Jodi Magness from her book
Archaeology Odyssey  Ceased publication in 2005
ArchAtlas  Satellite imagery used to show how early communities developed.  Satellite images of specific sites.
Associates for Biblical Research:  Demonstrating through field work the historical reliability of the Scriptures

 

BibArch:  The Premier Biblical Archaeology Website
Bible and Interpretation.  Dedicated to delivering the latest news, features, editorial, archaeological interpretation and excavations relevant to the study of the Bible. 
Bible Places.  Pictures and descriptions of sites in Israel.
The Bible Unearthed:  Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of its Sacred Texts.  By Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman.  Bible and Interpretation Website
Biblical Archaeology Review
Biblical Archaeology's Glossary of Words and Phrases
Biblical Backgrounds by John Monson of Wheaton College
Biblisch Archaeologisches Institut.  University of Wuppertal
British School of Archaeology in Iraq
Cobb Institute of Archaeology.  Mississippi State University
Dig the Bible--Offers Tours of Various Sites
Doc Savage's Old World Archaeology Page



  Find a Dig  Sponsored by the Biblical Archaeology Society.  Map of Sites, Timeline, Summer Study
Foundation for Biblical Archaeology
Franciscan Archaeological Institute Jordan  Mt. Nebo and other sites
The Future of Biblical Archaeology:  Reassessing Methodologies and Assumptions.  Ed. James K. Hoffmeier and Alan Millard.  Reviews by Diana Edelman and Thomas Thompson in Review of Biblical Literature
German Society for the Exploration of Palestines
Grounds for Disbelief.  An Interview with Israel Finkelstein by Aviva Lori in Haaretz
Hebrew University's Institute of Archaeology
Holy Land Photos.  More than 2600 photos in the database.
Homelands of the Bible.  References to a number of geographical/archaeological sites.
Index and Links to Many Excavation Sites in Israel (AncientNearEast.net)
Interactive Satellite Map of the Holy Land
Iron Age Houses in Syria-Palestine. 
Israel Antiquities Authority.
Israel Photos by David Hall.  Pictures of a number of Biblical Sites.
Israeli Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University.
Israel's Archaeological Treasures
    Judean Foothills
    Judean Desert and the Negeb
    Mediterranean Coast
    Galilee and the Golan
    Jerusalem the Eternal City
Jerusalem Archaeological Park--Fantastic site.
Jewish Oil Lamps from 70 CE to 135 CE
Magis:  Mediterranean Archaeology:  an inventory of regional survey projects in the greater Mediterranean.
Matson Photo Archives. Historical images of Israel-Palestine and the Middle East from 1898-1946.
Menorah Coin Project A wonderful treasure of information on ancient coins related to the Bible.
Messages from the Past:  Hebrew Bullae from the Time of Isaiah through the Destruction of the First Temple and Biblical Period Personal Seals in the Shlomo Moussaieff Collection.  By Robert Deutsch.  Reviewed by Alexander H. Joffe, who focuses on the problem of antiquities that show up in private collections like this.
Mnemotrix ArchaeoSearch Database of Ancient Near East and Classical Studies.  Bar Ilan University
 

Mysterious Death of Albert Glock
Nabonus: Archaeological Website.
Near East Archaeological Society  Andrews University
Near East Tourist Agency:  Good info on a number of biblical sites.
New Testament Gateway:  Archaeology:  Israel.
Oil-Lamps in the Holy Land: Saucer Lamps: From the Beginning to the Hellenistic Period: Collections of the Israel Antiquities Authority. By Varda Sussman. Review by Noam Adler in Review of Biblical Literature.
Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls
PalArch  Online journal from the Netherlands dealing with Palestinian archaeology.
Palestine Exploration Fund Home Page  Publishes Palestine Exploration Quarterly
Pictures of Israel by Scott Noegel of the University of Washington
Pottery Charts Characteristic of Particular Periods
Leen Ritmery's blog on archaeology
Swedish Jordan Expedition.
Three Debates about Bible and Archaeology.  The Biblical Archaeology Debate; The Minimalist-Maximalist Debate, and the 10th century Debate.  By Ziony Zevit.  Bib 83 (2002):1-27
Virtual World Project  Virtual tour of ancient sites along the Eastern Mediterranean.  Creighton University.
        Arad, Beersheba, Dan, Gezer, Kinneret, Lachish, Megiddo, Qasile, and many other sites

Links to Specific Archaeological Sites

Note:  The sites identified as Bible Places.com have wonderful photographs.

Abila Archaeological Project.  Southeast of the Sea of Galilee in Jordan.
Acco from Bible Places.com.  See also Akko
Ai:  Et-tell.  From Bible Places.com
Ai:  Khirbet el-Maqatir.  An alternate identification for Ai; excavation by Bryant Wood.
Akko  Maritime Capital of the Crusader Kingdom.  Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Aphek.  Return to Aphek by Steven Feldman
Aphek, Antipatris.  Bible Places.com
Arad from Bible Places.com
Arad  Canaanite city and Israelite citadel in the Negev.  Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Arad Images
Ashkelon  Article by David Schloen of the Oriental Institute
Ashkelon by Jacqueline Schaalje.
Ashkelon:  Bible Places.com
 Ashkelon Excavations.
Ashkelon in National Geographic magazine
Assawir.  Eight miles east of Caesarea.  University of Haifa


 

Banyas  Cult city of the god Pan.  Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Beth Guvrin (Maresha).  Bible Places.com
Bethsaida.  Iron Age City Gate, Roman temple
Bethsaida from Bible Places.com
Beer-sheba.  Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Beer-sheba.  Bible Places.com
Beersheba.  Fine pictures and maps from Netours.com
Beersheba Images
Beth-Shean from Bible Places.com
Beth-Shean.  Interesting magazine article by Jacqueline Schaalje
Beth-Shean Valley Regional Project.  Excavations, stratigraphic table, pictures, bibliography
Beth-Shemesh by Bible Places.com
Beth-Shemesh.  Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Beth-Shemesh.  Summer 2000 update by Steve Weitzman  Bible and Interpretation website
Beth Guvrin.  An important city in southern Israel during the Roman period.
Bethel:  Background information on the biblical site.
Bethlehem from Bible Places.com
Bethsaida.   Excavation led by Rami Arav and Richard Freund
Bethsaida.  From Bible Places.com



Caesarea Maritima.  Excavation sponsored by University of Maryland and University of Haifa
Caesarea Philippi  Bible Places.com
Dan from Bible Places.com
Dan.  Sponsored by Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dan:  The Biblical City  Jewish Virtual Library
Dan.  Fine pictures and maps from Netours.com
Dead Sea.  From Bible Places.com
Dor Excavations  Cornell-Tel Dor Website
Dor.  University of California at Berkeley Expedition
Ein Gedi Oasis Excavations


Egypt

Abu Simbel:  Temple of Ramesses II.  Bible Places.com
Dashur Pyramids (Bent Pyramid) from Bible Places.com
Egypt Sites and Excavations Find your way to many sites in Egypt
Giza Pyramids.  Bible Places.com
Jebel Musa (Mount Sinai) from Bible Places.com
Karnak Temple from Bible Places.com  Dwelling place of Amon-Re, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu

Great Hypostyle Hall Project by University of Memphis, TN  Great Pictures
Tour of Karnak Temple by Mark Millmore

Luxor Temple from Bible Places.com
Medinet Habu.  Bible Places.com  Ramesses III Mortuary Temple


 

Elah Valley from Bible Places.com
Elath, Jotham's Seaport at.
 Ein-Gedi  Y. Hirschfield, Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Ekron:  A Philistine City.  Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
En Gedi.  Bible Places.com



Gamla  Jewish city on the Golan Heights  Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Gamla:  The Masada of the North.  From Bible Places.com
Gath from Bible Places.com  See also Tell Es-Safi
Gezer by Bible Places.com  Good photographs, links.
Gezer Images
Gibeah.   Sponsored by BibArch.
Gibeon--Good Pictures and Links from BiblePlaces.com
Gilgal, Lost City of  Vendel Jones Research Institute
Golan Heights:  Biblical Bashan  Bible Places.com
Hamat Gader.  Medicinal hot springs; ancient synagogue.  Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hazor:  From Bible Places.com  Great photos.
Hazor Images
Hazor:  Recent Archaeological Discoveries from the Bible and Interpretation Website
Hazor:  Website of current excavations by the Hebrew University.
Hebron from Bible Places.com
Herodium--Herod's Burial Site.  By Bible Places.com.
Iraq Sites and Excavations  Find your way to many sites in Iraq.  AncientNearEast.net
Israel Sites and Excavations  Find your way to many sites in Israel  AncientNearEast.net
Jericho Long essay on Ellis Crystal's website
Jericho.  Fine maps and pictures from Netours.com
Jericho.  From Bible Places.com
Jezreel Valley from Bible Places.com
Judean Wilderness from Bible Places.com
 

Jerusalem


Jerusalem 3000:  Extensive Links to Maps of Jerusalem.  Three Millennia of History
Jerusalem Archaeological Park  Excellent site for Jerusalem in all periods
Jerusalem:  Cardo from Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  Center of French Research on Jerusalem (in French)
Jerusalem:  Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  The City of David from Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  Dome of the Rock.  Many links from Bible Places.com
Jerusalem.  Fine pictures and maps from Netours.com
Jerusalem:  Gates to the Old City.  Great photos from Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  Hezekiah's Tunnel from Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  Historical tour.  Tours from 2000 BCE to 1917 CE
Jerusalem in Bible and Archaeology:  The First Temple Period.  Ed. Andrew G.; Vaughn and Ann E. Killebrew.  Review by Carl S. Ehrlich in Journal of Hebrew Scriptures. 
Jerusalem in 19th Century Art.   Pictures by David Roberts, William Bartlett, Harry Fenn and others.
Jerusalem in the 10th/9th Centuries B.C.  By Margaret Steiner.  Bible and Interpretation website.  A small town of 2000 inhabitants.  Or was it founded in the 9th century and David and Solomon had nothing to do with it?
Jerusalem:  Jewish Quarter from Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  A Maximist View.  Gabriel Barkai claims that First Temple Jerusalem covered 225 acres.  Ha'aretz newspaper
Jerusalem:  Mount of Olives from Bible Places.com
Jerusalem: Old City Gates from Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  Pool of Siloam from Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  Portrait of the City in the Second Temple Period (538 B.C.E.-70 C.E.).  By Lee I. Levine.  Review by Daniel Gurtner in Review of Biblical Literature. 
Jerusalem:  Snow    Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  Solomon's Stables  Illustrated essay by Tuvia Sagiv
Jerusalem:  Southern Temple Mount Excavations.  From Bible Places.com.  The excavation of Benjamin Mazar
Jerusalem:  The Temple Mount  Many good links
Jerusalem:  The Temple Mount from Bible Places.com
Temple Mount in Jerusalem by Jacqueline Schaalje
Jerusalem:  Temple Mount South (Benjamin Mazar excavations)  Bible Places.com
The Temple Mount in Jerusalem:  Where were the First and Second Temples Located?  By Turia Sagiv
Jerusalem Through Coins 539 BCE to 135 CE.  This is a really great site!  Sandy Brenner
Jerusalem:  Tomb of the Kings from Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  Virtual Jerusalem Tour  Jerusalem Gates, Holy Sites, Chagall Windows, Jerusalem Mosaic
Jerusalem:  Warren's Shaft.  From Bible Places.com
Jerusalem:  Western Wall from Bible Places.com

Ancient Maps of Jerusalem by Persons.
Die Geschichte Jerusalems und die Entstehung des Monotheismus. Bu Othmar Keel.  Review by Ernst Axel Knauf in Review of Biblical Literature.
Karen Armstrong's Jerusalem--One City, Three Faiths.  A review of a book by Karen Armstrong by Norman Golb.  From the Bible and Interpretation website. 
Once and Future City:  Report from the Jerusalem Post on recent controversial archeological finds.
Politics and Propaganda:  The Use and Abuse of Ancient Conflicts in the Modern Battle for Jerusalem.  By Eric H. Cline.  Bible and Interpretation website.
Robinson's Arch from Dig the Bible

Jordan

Jordan:  Sites and Excavations Find your way to many sites in Jordan.  AncientNearEast.Net
Bab edh-Dhra from Bible Places.com  (Possibly Sodom)
Edom from Bible Places.com
Jabbok, Penuel, and Mahanaim.  From Bible Places.com
Kings Highway in Jordan
Madaba Map.  More good photos from Bible Places.com
Moab from Bible Places.com
 

Kedesh.  Six miles south of Kiryat Shemona.  Universities of Michigan and Minnesota.  On border with Lebanon.
Khirbet al-Mudayna.  Six-chambered gate, Moabite temple.  30 miles south of Amman, Jordan
Kinneret Regional Project.  Northwestern shore of Sea of Galilee.  Bronze and Iron age, living quarters, defenses. 
Kiriath-jearim from Bible Places.com
Lachish by Bible Places.com  Great photographs of excavation and many additional links.
Lachish Images

Madaba Map.  Wonderful pictures of all and parts of the map
Maresha--Persian figurines database.  Cobb Institute of Archaeology
Masada from Bible Places.com
Masada--Magazine article by Jacqueline Schaalje
Masada Myth.  Nachman Ben-Yehuda presents evidence that the heroes of the Jewish revolt were not heroes at  all.  Bible and Interpretation website


Masada
 


Megiddo Bronze and Iron Ages.  The Megiddo Expedition
Megiddo:  Bible Places.com
Megiddo: The Chronology Debate
Megiddo.  Fine maps and pictures from Netours.com
Megiddo Images
Michmash, Geba, and the Pass.  Bible Places.com
Mizpah--Tell en-Nasbeh.  Eight miles north of Jerusalem.  Detailed extract from New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land.
Mount Carmel from Bible Places.com
Mount Ebal.  Analysis of cult site by Adam Zertal
Mount Hermon.   Pictures from Bible Places.com
Mount Sinai:  Jebel Musa.  Bible Places.com
Mount Tabor.  Fine maps and pictures from Netours.com
Mount Tabor from Bible Places.com
Mts. Gerizim and Ebal.  Bible Places.com
Nebi Samwil.  Traditional Home and Tomb of Samuel.  Bible Places.com
Petra:  The Complete Petra  A web directory and guide.
Petra:  The Great Temple Excavation  Brown University
Qumran.  Fine maps and pictures from Netours.com
Qumran from Bible Places.com
Qumran Caves--Pictures of all eleven from Bible Places.com


Ramat Rachel Excavations
Ramat Rachel, renewed excavations
Rehov.  Two miles from Beth-Shean in Northern Israel.  Buildings from 10-9 centuries.  Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Samaria  (Sebaste) Bible Places.com
Sea of Galilee  Bible Places.com
Sepphoris.  Bible Places.com.  Capital of Herod Antipas in 4 BCE
Shechem by Netours.com.  Fine maps and pictures.
Shechem--The Cult Site on Mount Ebal by Adam Zertal.
Shechem:  Temples and Gates.  From Bible Places.com
Shiloh:  From Bible Places.com
Shomron/Samaria:  Collection of Links.
Sippori/Zepphoris 4 miles northwest of Nazareth.  Geometrical mosaics.
Taanach:  Akkadian Texts  Transliteration and Translation
 



Taanach--Siegfried Kreuzer's article from Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible.
Tel Dan Excavations
Tell Jalul.  Early Bronze to Persian Period.  Andrews University.  Located east of Madaba
Tell El-'Ajjul--Sharuhen (Hyksos City) 
Tell Es-Safi/Gath.  Bar Ilan University.  Philistine remains.  Goliath inscription
Tell Es-Safi/Gath Weblog
Tel Hazor  Tel Hazor excavations project
Tel Kedesh.  Universities of Michigan and Minnesota.  Hula Valley, Israel
Tell Abu Al Kharaz  Possible site of Jabesh Gilead?
Tell el-`Ajjul
Tell en-Nasbeh-Mizpah
Tell en-Nasbeh Research Project
Timna Valley  Bible Places.com
Valley of Elah from Bible Places.com
Wadi Arabah Project.  Explores links between southern Jordan and southern Israel.  Good discussion about the history of Edom
Wadi Qilt from Bible Places.com
Yavneh Yam Home Site.  Professor Moseh Fischer
Zeitah.  20 miles east of Ashkelon.  Director:  Ron E. Tappy of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Ziklag from Bible Places.com


 

  Museums

Last updated:  February 23, 2006

Aegyptisches Museum Charlottenburg-Berlin (also papyrus collection)
Allard Pierson Archaeological Museum Amsterdam
Archeological Museum:  Kibbutz En Dor.  The Ashmolean if Britain's oldest museum
Ashmolean Museum at Oxford
Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem  Largely the collection of Elie Borowski
British Museum:  Department of Ancient Egypt and the Sudan
British Museum:  Mesopotamian Section
Carlos Museum--Emory University:  Ancient Egyptian and Nubian Art  Michael C. Carlos Museum
Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection Berlin Charlottenburg
Harvard Semitic Museum.  Nuzi, Ashkelon, other resources


Horn Archeological Museum at Andrews University  Currently closed for excavations
Introduction to Archaeological Studies II by Constanze Witt
Israel Bible Museum.  Works of Phillip Ratner 
Israel Museum  The archeological resource in the Holy Land.
Israel Museum of Art and Archaeology  Arranged by time periods and also has info on costumes, water systems, people, 
Israel Museum:  Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls)
Kibbutz En Dor Archaeological Museum
Manchester Museum:  Egyptology
Metropolitan Museum:  Ancient Near Eastern Art
Metropolitan Museum:  Egyptian Art Department
Museum of Ancient Near Eastern Antiquities in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
National Museum of the Syrian Arab Republic
Oriental Institute Museum Site
Palestine Collection at the Oriental Institute


Reuben and Edith Hecht Museum Haifa
Royal Ontario Museum  Hone your skills of archaeological analysis, write your name in hieroglyphics, learn how to make your own mini-mummy, participate in a virtual dig and view the museum's collection.
Sections of the Vatican Museums.   Antiquities and great art.
Syria Museum
Tower of David Museum:  Jerusalem  History of the City of Jerusalem
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
University of Pennsylvania Museum.  Much on Canaan, Israel, Egypt, and Mesopotamia
Vatican Egyptian Museum
Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum Jerusalem

 

Report any errors to rklein@lstc.edu

 

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