Jericho Excavations

Overview

The excavations at Jericho, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, have been conducted over more than a century by various archaeologists, each contributing to the complex understanding of the site's stratigraphy. John Garstang's early 20th-century excavations revealed a massive destruction layer dated to the Late Bronze Age, which he famously interpreted as matching the biblical account of Jericho's fall described in Joshua 6. However, subsequent work by Kathleen Kenyon in the 1950s challenged this dating, arguing that the destruction occurred earlier, around 1550 BCE, and was part of a broader regional collapse rather than a specific conquest. More recent excavations led by Kathleen Bimson and others have reignited the debate, suggesting that while Jericho did experience destruction events, the timing and nature of these events may align more closely with the biblical narrative than previously thought. The site features impressive fortifications including massive mudbrick walls and a sophisticated defensive system, which were systematically dismantled during periods of crisis. The discovery of collapsed walls, burned grain stores, and evidence of sudden abandonment provides compelling evidence of violent destruction that could correspond to the biblical narrative. The ongoing research at Jericho continues to refine our understanding of the site's complex history, with each new discovery adding layers to the story of this ancient city and its place in the biblical tradition.

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