Passover, certainly. But what about the peculiar Easter traditions—bunnies, painted eggs, hot cross buns? Several passages in the Hebrew Bible contain remarkable descriptions of what appear to be Easter practices. How could this be possible—centuries before the birth of Christianity?

A document describing Egypt’s sudden downfall is suspiciously similar to the Exodus account.

A fascinating new study furthers our understanding of one of ancient Jerusalem’s most iconic features.

Chances are you’ve heard of the famous one from Tel Dan—here are two more.

How a lost empire confirms biblical history

Scientists discover 2,700-year-old remains of cannabis on a Tel Arad incense altar, paralleling details of the reign of King Ahaz. But does the ritual cannabis use reflect standard worship practices at Jerusalem’s temple, as the researchers suggest?

Two of the oldest pieces of writing found in Jerusalem leave their mark on the archaeological and biblical worlds.

‘Dr. Mazar, I presume?’

A recently unearthed trove of bullae provide evidence for what happened to a number of Israelites who escaped the Assyrian captivity.

Was Solomon a significant king ruling over a vast, wealthy empire? The Bible says he was. What does archaeology say? A journey begins at the gates …

A treasure trove of names of the prophet’s contemporaries

A lesser-known story of the famous biblical personality—and some fascinating evidence behind it

‘That bitter and hasty nation’

What a 3,000-year-old artifact reveals about royal Solomonic construction

The first seal impression of a biblical king ever found

Written around the time of King Solomon, this special artifact provides insight into the Hebrew calendar.

Get to know the artifacts that call the University of Oxford home.

Impossible odds?

Renaissance Italy, dueling mathematicians, and a peculiar account of the Bible’s “wisest” men

The unusual species that once roamed ancient Israel

The ancient Persians are recognized as one of the greatest peoples on Earth—and for good reason.

We should. It’s the most accurately copied ancient document in human history.