Archaeology
Archaeology is the systematic study of human history through excavation and scientific analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. It provides tangible evidence for the past. Like pieces of a puzzle or clues to a mystery, archaeological finds are pieced together with other sources of historical information to provide a better understanding of past cultures and events.
If you are uncertain about whether the Bible is trustworthy, researching archaeological discoveries that corroborate Biblical history can be encouraging. Personally, I have been amazed at some of the recent finds. Not only do they shed light on Biblical culture, but some directly connect with the historical people and events found in the Bible.
I’m not an archaeologist. But I can highlight some of the significant archaeological discoveries that have been meaningful for me. Archaeology may only be one of many kinds of evidence that support the reliability of the Bible. But it is certainly a fascinating evidence to pursue!
If you want to dig deeper into archeological evidences supporting the reliability of the Bible, take a look at my Recommended Resources page.
Why Are the Dead Sea Scrolls Significant?
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of ancient scrolls, mostly in Hebrew, but some in Aramaic and Greek. The oldest date to the 3rd century BC. The newest date to the first century, before the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD. The scrolls were discovered in caves near Qumran in the West Bank, not far from the Dead Sea. Very few of the manuscripts are complete. [...]
Earliest Known Archaeological Mention of Israel
Pioneer British Egyptologist Flinders Petrie (1853-1942) excavated on the west bank of ancient Thebes, across the river from the famous Temple of Karnak. Ancient Thebes is modern Luxor, a city in Upper Egypt on the Nile River. It was the religious center of Egypt during the New Kingdom period (c. 1550-1070 BC). During his excavations in 1896-1897, Petrie's excavation team carried out fieldwork on six temples. In one of these, the Temple of Pharaoh [...]
Why is the Rosetta Stone Famous?
The Rosetta Stone is part of a larger stone monument known as a stele . Although many similar stelae have been found, the Rosetta Stone is arguably the most famous archaeological artifact ever discovered. In 1799, Napolean Bonaparte's army was campaigning in Egypt. The story goes that Napolean's soldiers were digging a new foundation near Rashid (Rosetta), a city near the Mediterranean in the Nile delta, when they discovered a large piece of an ancient [...]
What Can Archaeology Tell Us?
Archaeology tells us about the past. Modern archaeology, as we know it, began in the mid to late 1800's. In earlier centuries, excavators were little more than treasure hunters, unconcerned about the historical context of their finds. But modern archeologists apply scientific methods to the study of past human cultures. The sequence dating method of British Egyptologist Flinders Petrie (1853-1942) had a profound impact on the application of scientific analysis to the field of archaeology. [...]