50 Discoveries for the OT** The following is a compilation of different discoveries that are well known throughout the archaeological world and provide support for the Bible and the ancient nation of Israel. 1. The Sumerian King List- mentions a flood interupting their rule and the number of kings prior to the flood match with the number of men mentioned from Adam to Noah. 2. The Gilgamesh Epic tablets- talks about a flood. couple this with the numerous world wide accounts and we have strong evidence that a real catastrophe occured in history. 3. The city of Ur- Abraham's home town. 4. Beni Hasan Tomb Painting- depicts a group of people arriving in Egypt from Palestine, shows their dress and hair styles plus musical instruments and weapons. 5. The Law Code of Hammurabi- Showed that laws existed in the ancient world and that there was order in those civilizations. 6. Hittite capital, Boghazkoy- proved the Bible correct when it said that there was a Hittite people 7. Nuzi Tablets- helped clarify cultural practices mentioned in the Bible 8. Haran- Home of the Patriarchs 9. Shechem- ancient city of refuge, mentioned in Joshua 20,. 10 Pithom and Rameses- Egyptian store cities built by the Israelites, Exodus 1 11 Horned alters- The OT speaks on these many times, shows us they they looked. 12 Merenptah Stele- One of the first mentions of ancient Israel. 13 Oldest picture of the Israelites- Karnak Temple in Egypt 14 Jericho- the ancient city and its ruins reflect the Biblical accountof its destruction. 15 Canaanite gods & godesses- reflects the Bible's teaching that they ancient society's had other beliefs. 16 The Philistines & The Temple of Rameses III- earliest known record fo the Philistines 17 Dan or Laish- Israel's northernmost city 18 Megiddo- Solomon made Megiddo a fortified town 19- Ashkelon- One of the 5 major Philistine cities. 20 Gezer- Egyptian gift to Solomon as a wedding present when he married an Egyptian princess 21 Shiloh- First home of the ark (1 Samuel 4) 22 Ashdod- Where dagon fell before the ark 23 Shishak's invasion record- includes Israel 24 Beth Shemesh- Philistines returned the ark to this city 25 Pool at Gibeon- 2 Sam. & Jer. both speak of this pool 26 Gibeah- King Saul's capital city 27 Beth Shean - the Philistines hung the bodies of King Saul and his sons from its walls 28 King David's Jerusalem- uncovered remains including evidence of David's conquest plus his palace (possibly) 29 Dan inscription- the Tel Dan stele (House of David) 30 Beersheba- the southern boundary of Israel's territory 31 Samaria- Israel's capital city after the division from Judah 32 Hazor- a major city conquered in the conquest 33 Ivory ornaments andobjects- Solomon had built a throne out of ivory 34 The Gezer calendar- example of early Hebrew writing 35 House of Yahweh Ostracon- a receipt for a donation to Solomon's temple 36 Royal Seals- from both Judah and Israel ( Uzziah, Hosea, Hezekiah) 37 The Moabite Stone- mentions an early Biblical people 38 Shalmenesar's black oblelisk- depicts Israel's king jehu kneeling before the Assyrian king 39 King Uzziah's burial plaque- he ruled from 792- 740 BC 40 The Siloam Tiunnel inscription- found at the site of Hezekiah's water projection completion 41 The Lachish reliefs- found in Sennacherib's palace depicting the Assyrian defeat of Lachish 42 Sennacherib's prism- the written record of the invasion of Judah 43 The tomb of the Hezir family- levitical priests during King David's time. 44 Carchemish- mentioned 3 times in the Bible 45 The Lachish letters- Written by the king of Judah to Egypt seeking help 46 Silver Amulets- contains the oldest written biblical passages bsaically identical to today's passage 47 Babylon- mentioned many times in the Bible 48 The Cyrus cylinder- records Cyrus' decree to let the Israelites (and other captives) return to their own land 49 Susa- Queen Esther's royal home 50 The Dead Sea Scrolls- hold the oldest copies of scripture