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Israel: An Archaeological Journey

This free e-book illuminates this most sacred of destinations using recent archaeological research. As the point where three of the world’s major religions converge, Israel’s history is one of the richest and most complex in the world. This free collection of articles, written by scholars who have first-hand knowledge of their subjects, sifts through the archaeology and history of this ancient land, and presents a view of these Biblically-significant sites through an archaeologist’s lens. Download now!

From Babylon to Baghdad: Ancient Iraq and the Modern West

This free e-book examines the relationship between ancient Iraq and the cultures of modern Western societies. This collection of articles, written by scholars who are the authorities on their subjects, details some of the ways in which ancient Near Eastern civilizations have impressed themselves on our Western culture. It examines the evolving relationship that modern scholarship has with this part of the world, and chronicles the present-day fight to preserve Iraq’s cultural heritage. Download now!

Exploring Jordan: The Other Biblical Land

Other than Israel, no country has as many Biblical sites and associations as Jordan: Mount Nebo, from where Moses gazed at the Promised Land he could not enter; Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John baptized Jesus; Lot’s Cave, where Lot and his daughters sought refuge after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; Madaba, home of a stunning mosaic map of the Holy Land; the lands of the ancient kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and Edom, and many more. Travel with us on our journey into the past. Download now!

Island Jewels: Understanding Ancient Cyprus and Crete

Take a journey to Cyprus and Crete, two stunning history-laden lands in the Mediterranean. Visit several key historical places on both islands and discover many of the great objects that have been unearthed there by archaeologists. Let the island hopping begin! Download now!

The Olympic Games: How They All Began

Every two years, the Olympics will draw global attention as people follow the modern version of the world’s most ancient and venerable competition. But what are the origins of this 2700-year-old event? Tracing the enigmatic, mystical genesis of the Greek Olympiad, our free e-book, “The Olympic Games: How They All Began,” takes us on a journey to ancient Greece with some of the finest scholars of the ancient world. Ranging from the original religious significance of the games to the brutal athletic competitions themselves, the e-book’s contributing writers paint a picture of the ancient sports world and its devoted fans. Download now!

The Dead Sea Scrolls—What They Really Say

What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? Why are they important? Hershel Shanks, editor of Biblical Archaeology Review and a major figure in the fight to free the Dead Sea Scrolls from the control of a small group of scholars, guides you through this fascinating and important subject. Learn where the Scrolls were found and by whom, how they came to be acquired (some were even offered for sale through an ad in the Wall Street Journal!) and, most important, how they add to our knowledge of how the Bible was formed and how they illuminate our understanding of Christianity and Judaism. Download now!

The Burial of Jesus

In 1980 archaeologists excavating in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem discovered a burial cave filled with 10 ossuaries, or bone boxes, dating to the first century A.D. Six of the ossuaries were inscribed with names: Jesus son of Joseph; Mary; Mary; Joseph; Judah son of Jesus and Matthew. Filmmakers James Cameron (who directed Titanic) and Simcha Jacobovici claim that the Talpiot cave is the tomb of Jesus and his family. The merits of the case will likely take months and perhaps even years to sort out. To get a better sense of the issues involved, read our free e-book, “The Burial of Jesus,” with articles by prominent archaeologists on the burial customs in ancient Jerusalem, what Jesus’ tomb would have looked like and what we know of Jesus’ family. Download now!

Real or Fake?

In January 2007, the Biblical Archaeology Society convened a conference in Jerusalem of leading scholars from all over the world to assess a number of well-known artifacts that had in recent years been labeled as forgeries. If these artifacts are in fact genuine, they would have a major impact on our knowledge of the Biblical world.

Biblical Archaeology Review editor Hershel Shanks has written a detailed report on this important conference. He introduces the participants and their specialties and explains how their various fields of expertise can help assess the genuineness of the artifacts. Download now!