Bible Rebel keeps a watchdog’s eye on discoveries and news from the world of biblical archaeology and brings it to our readers.
First Assyrian Cuneiform Inscription Found in Jerusalem (2025)
Archaeologists uncovered a small Akkadian cuneiform inscription sherd in Jerusalem dated to the First Temple period (about 2,700 years old). The text appears to be an official notice from an Assyrian king to the king of Judah regarding tribute, marking the first known Assyrian inscription discovered within Jerusalem itself. This find provides direct extra-biblical evidence for the political and diplomatic realities of Judah’s relationship with Assyria described in biblical books like 2 Kings and Isaiah. Bible Archaeology Report
Temple Mount Sifting Project: Bulla with a Biblical Name (2025)
Excavations associated with the Temple Mount Sifting Project yielded a clay bulla (seal impression) inscribed with the name “Yed[a‛]yah, son of Asayahu”, dating to the 7th–6th century BC. The name matches a figure mentioned in the Bible during the reign of King Josiah (2 Kings 22:12; 2 Chronicles 34:20). This supports the historicity of individuals in the biblical narrative and helps tie archaeological material culture to known biblical figures. Bible Archaeology Report
Grape and Olive Remains Under the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (2025)
Archaeologists working beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem uncovered 2,000-year-old remains of grape seeds and olive pits in soil layers dated to the time of Jesus. These botanical finds match descriptions of the Garden of Gethsemane / Golgotha landscape in the Gospels and contribute to identifying the setting of pivotal events in the life and death of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. New Life