Let the Stones Speak: Recent Episodes
Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology
Let the Stones Speak brings you archaeology from a biblical perspective. Host Brent Nagtegaal is on location in Jerusalem to give you the most important developments happening on the ground—and emerging from beneath it. Nagtegaal is a contributor for ArmstrongInstitute.org.
The Bible says King Solomon possessed such quantities of bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) that it became a common material, not worthy of being enumerated. From where did Solomon acquire such vast supplies of copper?
Let the Stones Speak co-host Christopher Eames interviewed Prof. Erez Ben-Yosef, director of excavations at Timna, to discuss the copper mines of Israel’s united monarchy.
“Copper Mines of the United Monarchy”
“David’s Edomite Garrisons”
In December, Let the Stones Speak co-host Christopher Eames interviewed Zachi Dvira. In this first installment of the interview, Dvira discusses the history of the project, as well as some details about where the project stands today.
From the biggest of shipwrecks to the smallest of pendants—here’s our list of 2024’s greatest hits in biblical archaeology.
https://armstronginstitute.org/1145-top-10-biblical-archaeology-discoveries-of-2024
The book of Esther contains one of the most riveting and dramatic stories in the Bible. But is it true? There are those who have tried to discredit the book of Esther, relegating it to myth and fables. However, what does the evidence say?
On today’s program, host Nicholas Irwin interviews staff writer Christopher Eames about his article “The Book of Esther: Fact or Fiction?”
The Book of Esther: Fact or Fiction?
Esther in the Dead Sea Scrolls?
On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal speaks to Hebrew University Archaeologist Prof. Yosef Garfinkel about a recently discovered city wall at Lachish during his excavations in collaboration with Prof. Hoo-Goo Kang of Seoul Jangsin University, Korea. The interview occurred on the sidelines of the American Schools for Oversees Research annual meeting held in Boston in late November.
https://armstronginstitute.org/1138-king-rehoboams-fortifications-found-at-biblical-lachish
The Tel Dan Stele is arguably the most important artifact ever discovered in the world of biblical archaeology, containing the earliest confirmed mention of King David. In light of the opening celebration, Let the Stones Speak host Brent Nagtegaal interviewed epigrapher and historian Prof. Michael Langlois, who is currently researching the Stele.
https://armstronginstitute.org/1110-new-research-on-the-house-of-david-inscription-with-prof-michael-langlois
The team from Hebrew University and the Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology is about to start excavations again in the royal quarter of ancient Jerusalem—the Ophel. On today’s program, host Christopher Eames talks with excavation directors Prof. Uzi Leibner and Dr. Orit Peleg-Barkat about the upcoming Ophel dig.
The Givati Parking Lot excavations at the northwestern edge of the City of David have upended our ideas about what ancient Jerusalem looked like. A sensational new discovery has revealed the city had a moat. Not one that contained water but rather a monumental artificial valley that separated the northern part of the city (the Ophel and Temple Mount) from the southern region (the City of David), serving as a distinguishing feature of the city during the days of the biblical kings.
On today’s program, host Christopher Eames interviews Givati Parking Lot excavations co-director Dr. Yiftah Shalev to find out the latest about this astonishing topographical feature being uncovered at the site.
“An Early Iron Age Moat in Jerusalem Between the Ophel and the Southeastern Ridge/City of David”
“The Moat of Ancient Jerusalem”
“Top 10 Biblical Archaeology Discoveries of 2023”
“Mysterious Bedrock Cuts From the First Temple Period Jerusalem”
Shiloh is famous as the location of the biblical tabernacle. Archaeological excavations have been taking place annually on the north side of the ancient tel. Excavation director Dr. Scott Stripling believes his team may have found remains from the tabernacle itself, as well as the city gate and sacrificial deposits. In this end-of-season interview, Let the Stones Speak host Christopher Eames interviews Dr. Stripling about finds from the 2024 season, including some intriguing gold items—offerings for the tabernacle?
Let the Stones Speak May-June 2022: SHILOH: Israel’s First Capital
Interview: Uncovering Shiloh at the Time of the Tabernacle (2023)
Interview: Will the Location of the Tabernacle be Soon Discovered at Tel Shiloh? (2022)
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Over the past decade, archaeologists and scientists have collected and analyzed carbon samples from archaeological strata dating from 3,000 years ago—the time of the biblical kings of King David’s dynasty. Now, the results are finally in. What it revealed is a stunning overlap between biblical history and who built what in Jerusalem during the time of the biblical kings.
A Revolutionary Carbon-Dating Study of Ancient Jerusalem
Can you confirm the identity of Moses in Egyptian history?
Can you confirm the identity of Moses in Egyptian history? There is one particular princely individual in the New Kingdom Period who remarkably parallels the biblical account of Moses. The similarities are so close, one key proponent believes the evidence is secure. Has the question of Moses’s identity in Egyptian history been solved?
On today’s program, host Nicholas Irwin interviews staff writer Christopher Eames about this potential candidate for biblical Moses.
On today’s program, Prof Michael Langlois joins host Brent Nagtegaal to discuss the Mesha Stele along with current scholarship’s unscientific reluctance to accept the historicity of King David.
https://armstronginstitute.org/1051-mesha-stele-the-second-house-of-david-inscription
The Bible describes several peculiar architectural features of Solomon’s temple and palace complex. Remarkable parallels to these features were discovered on a 3,000-year-old strange stone model at Khirbet Qeiyafa. On today’s program, Let the Stones Speak host Christopher Eames interviews Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, a lead researcher of the shrine model. They also discuss her discovery of the earliest alphabetical sentence ever found in Israel—the Lachish Comb Inscription.
“Triglyphs: Another New Style of Monumental Architecture”
“The ‘House of the Forest of Lebanon,’ an Impossible Equation, and the Danger in Trying to ‘Fix’ the Bible”
“3,700-Year-Old Appeal Against Lice: Earliest(?) Alphabetic Inscription Discovered in Israel”
RELATED PUBLICATIONS:
Solomon’s Temple and Palace: New Archaeological Discoveries, by Yosef Garfinkel and Madeleine Mumcuoglu
Crossing the Threshold: Architecture, Iconography and the Sacred Entrance, by Madeleine Mumcuoglu and Yosef Garfinkel
Another year in biblical archaeology is behind us—and a big year it was, particularly in discoveries and research relating to kings David and Solomon.
https://armstronginstitute.org/980-top-10-biblical-archaeology-discoveries-of-2023
For today’s program, Let the Stones Speak host Brent Nagtegaal traveled to Ein Hatzeva, located in southern Israel, to interview Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Dr. Tali Erickson-Gini at what she believes is one of the many military outposts dating to King David’s time.
https://armstronginstitute.org/969-outposts-built-by-king-david-discovered-in-southern-israel
On today’s podcast, host Brent Nagtegaal talks to Professor Ben-Yosef about how the copper production site in Timna—as well as the wider Aravah Valley area—could have contributed to the power and wealth of the kingdom of David and Solomon, as well as the Edomites.
https://armstronginstitute.org/966-did-the-massive-copper-mines-of-edom-empower-the-kingdom-of-david-and-solomon
This amazing discovery was made on one of the final days of the Ophel excavation in Jerusalem. On this program, host Brent Nagtegaal speaks with dig co-director Dr. Orit Peleg-Barkat, one of the world’s foremost experts on Second Temple Period architecture, about the ornate ceiling panel.
VIDEO HERE -www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7VFJatNxqs
AIBA's Christopher Eames presents the first full accounting of Jerusalem inscriptions from the Iron ii period at the distinguished “Epigraphy in Judah” conference in Jerusalem.
VIDEO HERE
On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal interviews the lead author of the paper, archaeologist Dr. Scott Stripling, about the discovery and its final publication.
Video Here https://armstronginstitute.org/897-the-curse-tablet-from-joshuas-altar-on-mount-ebal
On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal interviews Dr. Vainstub about his new reading of the inscription and its connection to the biblical narrative.
https://armstronginstitute.org/888-jerusalem-inscription-proves-link-between-king-solomon-and-sheba
On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal talks about how an honest archaeological mistake led to an all-too-wonderful discovery. Then he discusses how the famous Persian king was critical in the construction of the second temple in Jerusalem.
https://armstronginstitute.org/871-king-darius-in-israel-an-almost-amazing-archaeological-discovery
A somewhat belated discussion about another amazing year of discovery
https://armstronginstitute.org/861-top-10-biblical-archaeology-finds-of-2022
Talking with the City of David Foundation's Ze'ev Orenstein about an excavation two decades in the making
https://armstronginstitute.org/858-excavation-of-the-entire-siloam-pool-begins
A journey through one of the most important sites in biblical archaeology
https://armstronginstitute.org/854-touring-the-bibles-buried-cities-gezer
One of the most important archaeological discoveries in Jerusalem is the Ophel Gatehouse, uncovered by the late Dr. Eilat Mazar. On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal takes you on a tour of the gatehouse and discusses its 10th century b.c.e. dating.
https://armstronginstitute.org/836-investigating-king-solomons-jerusalem-gatehouse
On today's program, host Brent Nagtegaal speaks with archaeologist Christopher Eames about four ancient gatehouses that have been attributed to King Solomon's era.
https://armstronginstitute.org/830-king-solomons-gates
Following a careful cleaning process, a new discovery can be revealed to the public: an exceptionally rare silver half-shekel coin, from Year 3 of the Great Revolt. On today's program, we talk with Dr. Yoav Farhi who analyzed the coin.
https://armstronginstitute.org/817-extremely-rare-silver-coin-from-year-three-of-the-great-revolt-unveiled
And a second “House of David” inscription confirmed
https://armstronginstitute.org/804-prof-yosef-garfinkel-presents-earliest-alphabetical-inscription
And a new tool in biblical archaeology: archaeomagnetism
https://armstronginstitute.org/791-king-hezekiahs-monumental-jerusalem-inscription
Protecting antiquities from looters and illicit markets continues to be a problem in Israel. Yet in the past week, Israel has announced the repatriation of two key discoveries: a First Temple Period papyrus and a silver shekel from the fourth year of the Great Revolt.
https://armstronginstitute.org/763-the-ishmael-papyrus-a-silver-shekel-and-a-fully-stocked-3300-year-old-tomb
This week, host Brent Nagtegaal spoke with Givati dig co-director Dr. Yiftah Shalev about the ivory discovery, as well as other unique biblical-period finds from the excavation.
https://armstronginstitute.org/758-interview-2600-year-old-ornate-ivories-discovered-in-jerusalem
On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal goes to Tel Lachish to talk with excavation director Prof. Yosef Garfinkel about his team’s discoveries at the site from the time of Rehoboam, as well as to preview his new excavations set to begin on June 26, 2022.
On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal takes you on a tour of Gezer, highlighting the latest evidence supporting Solomonic-period construction.
https://armstronginstitute.org/717-and-solomon-built-gezer
The upcoming excavation at Shiloh may reveal the resting place of the biblical tabernacle, says dig director Dr. Scott Stripling.
https://armstronginstitute.org/708-will-the-location-of-the-tabernacle-be-soon-discovered-at-tel-shiloh-13-10
History records several major, famous conflicts that took place during the same chronological window as the Hebrew Bible. Yet for various reasons, these battles are not mentioned in the Bible.
Or are they?
https://armstronginstitute.org/706-hidden-biblical-clues-reveal-some-of-historys-greatest-conflicts
Is the biblical description of “Philistines” prior to the 12th century B.C.E.—in fact, over half a millennium earlier—evidence of biblical fable? Many modern scholars believe it is.
On today’s podcast, host Brent Nagtegaal interviews Christopher Eames to examine how the textual evidence from the Bible itself answers the question.
https://armstronginstitute.org/699-debunked-the-early-philistines-are-not-proof-against-the-bible
Debate over events aside, the detailed, eyewitness-style, Egyptianized language within the Torah points clearly to an Israelite experience in Egypt.
Evidence of Israel in Egypt—From the ‘Egypt’ in Israel
Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Israel Antiquities Authority have just released surprising findings from a chemical analysis of sixth-century B.C.E. wine jars recently discovered in the City of David. It turns out that Jerusalem’s elites enjoyed their wine with a touch of vanilla.
New Discovery: Jerusalem Elites Were Imbibing on Vanilla-Laced Wine Before City’s Fall
On today’s podcast, host Brent Nagtegaal talks with Dr. Stripling about the newly discovered Ebal inscription and how it could revolutionize our understanding of when the Bible was written.
https://armstronginstitute.org/687-interview-the-most-important-inscription-ever-discovered-in-biblical-archaeology
Later this week, scholars will present their reading of an ancient curse tablet discovered on Mt Ebal.
https://armstronginstitute.org/683-a-big-week-ahead-in-biblical-archaeology
On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal discusses a recent article by Ashkelon excavator Dr. Daniel Master in Biblical Archaeology Review that shows how dna evidence finally put to rest any debate about the Philistine origins.
Biblical Prophets Amos and Jeremiah Proved Correct on Philistine Origins
On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal interviews archaeologist Christopher Eames to discuss the historical evidence supporting the biblical account.
https://armstronginstitute.org/664-the-book-of-jonah-fact-or-fiction
On today’s podcast, Dr. Stripling joins host Brent Nagtegaal to discuss some amazing discoveries from excavation dumps on Mt Ebal that could reshape archaeology discussion regarding the period of Joshua’s conquest
https://armstronginstitute.org/658-interview-joshua-mount-ebal-and-the-discovery-of-an-ancient-hebrew-amulet
One of the great debates in the world of biblical archaeology is about the historicity of the biblical kingdom of kings David and Solomon. Many would say the evidence for such kingdoms is provided exclusively by the grand structures they left behind. But are other metrics of empire being overlooked? On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal interviews Christopher Eames about his recent article in Let the Stones Speak in which he discusses further evidence for the biblical kingdom.