What did Gabriel Barkay discover in Jerusalem's burial caves?

Gabriel Barkay discovered a pair of silver amulets from the 7th century B.C. containing a priestly inscription, the oldest known biblical text.

How did Gabriel Barkay change our understanding of the Old Testament?

Barkay's findings provided evidence that the writing of the Old Testament likely began several centuries earlier than previously thought by historians.

What was Gabriel Barkay's role in preserving Temple Mount antiquities?

Barkay co-founded committees and the Temple Mount Sifting Project to protect and examine artifacts removed from the site.

Home / Science / Gabriel Barkay: The Archaeologist Who Rewrote Bible History

Gabriel Barkay: The Archaeologist Who Rewrote Bible History

17 Jan

•

Summary

Discovered silver amulets with oldest known Bible text.
Evidence suggests Old Testament writing began much earlier.
Led significant archaeological digs in central Israel.

Gabriel Barkay: The Archaeologist Who Rewrote Bible History

Gabriel Barkay, a leading Israeli archaeologist, passed away at 81 in Jerusalem. His career spanned over 50 years, during which he led numerous significant excavations in central Israel, earning him the nickname "dean" of biblical archaeologists. Barkay's work fundamentally changed historical understanding of early Jewish life.

Barkay's most impactful discovery came in the late 1970s from burial caves southwest of Jerusalem: a pair of silver amulets inscribed with a priestly benediction. Translated in 1986, this text from the mid-600s B.C. represented the oldest known instance of biblical writing, providing evidence that the Old Testament's composition began several centuries earlier than many scholars had assumed.

Beyond his textual discoveries, Barkay was an active public figure, appearing in documentaries and lecturing frequently. He also advocated for the preservation of antiquities, co-founding committees to protect archaeological sites, notably concerning the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. His passion for connecting past and present through archaeology defined his influential career.