A history in strata
Timeline
Four millennia of biblical history, era by era. Every artifact is placed in the age of the events it testifies to.
c. 1400–1200 BCE
Exodus & Settlement
c. 930–586 BCE
Divided Kingdom
9th–8th century BCE
Tel Dan Israelite Gate
Massive Iron Age city gate complex at ancient Dan.
9th century BCE
Tel Dan Stele
Aramaic victory stele containing the earliest extra-biblical reference to the House of David.
c. 827 BCE
Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III
Assyrian monument depicting Jehu, king of Israel, bowing before the Assyrian king.
c. 840 BCE
Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone)
Basalt monument on which Mesha, king of Moab, recounts his revolt against Israel.
c. 727–698 BCE
Bulla of King Hezekiah
Clay seal impression bearing the name of King Hezekiah of Judah.
c. 701 BCE
Siloam Inscription
Hebrew inscription commemorating the completion of Hezekiah's Tunnel.
c. 691 BCE
Taylor Prism (Sennacherib's Annals)
Six-sided baked clay prism recording Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem.
701 BCE
Assyrian Siege Ramp at Lachish
Massive earthen assault ramp still visible at Tel Lachish.
c. 700–692 BCE
Lachish Reliefs
Assyrian palace reliefs depicting Sennacherib's conquest of the Judean city of Lachish.
early 7th century BCE
Ekron Royal Dedicatory Inscription
Limestone dedication naming the Philistine city of Ekron and its rulers.
late 7th century BCE
Ketef Hinnom Silver Scrolls
Two tiny silver amulets bearing the priestly blessing — the oldest biblical text ever found.
c. 600 BCE
Arad Ostracon (House of YHWH)
Ink-inscribed potsherd mentioning "the House of YHWH".
c. 588–586 BCE
Lachish Letters
Hebrew ostraca sent to the commander of Lachish just before its fall to Babylon.
539 BCE–70 CE
Second Temple
c. 4 BCE–100 CE
New Testament
c. 103–76 BCE (in use through 1st c. CE)
Widow's Mite (Lepton of Alexander Jannaeus)
Tiny bronze coin representing the two mites of the poor widow.
c. 1st century CE
Magdala Stone
Carved limestone block from a 1st-century synagogue at Magdala.
late 1st century BCE – 70 CE
Pool of Siloam
First-century stepped pool where Jesus healed the man born blind.
c. 20 BCE – 70 CE
Temple Warning Inscription
Greek inscription warning Gentiles not to enter the inner Temple courts.
1st century CE
Nazareth Inscription
Imperial Greek edict against tomb-robbing, possibly from the mid-1st century CE.
1st century CE
Heel Bone of Yehohanan
Only known physical evidence of Roman crucifixion — an iron nail through a heel bone.
c. 15–63 CE
Ossuary of Caiaphas
Ornately carved limestone bone-box inscribed "Joseph son of Caiaphas".
c. 26–36 CE
Pilate Stone
Limestone dedication naming Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.
mid-1st century CE
Erastus Inscription
Latin pavement inscription naming the Corinthian city treasurer Erastus.
52 CE
Gallio Inscription (Delphi)
Roman inscription anchoring the ministry of Paul to a fixed date.