Although we may endlessly debate whether archaeology can prove the Bible, one thing is clear: Archaeology provides tremendous insight into how ancient people experienced the sacred in the biblical world. By studying remains from the past—temples, churches, synagogues, tombs, images, and texts—we glimpse the myriad ways that Israelites, early Jews, and the first Christians negotiated their respective spiritual worlds. Our Fall 2025 issue unearths new insights into these ancient religious experiences. In our cover story, “At the Temple Gates,” explore Jerusalem pilgrimage during the Second Temple period and what the latest excavations at the Ophel reveal about the ritual practices […]
