Ceramic Chalice from Arad

Evidence for the material culture of ancient Israel comes mostly from artifacts and archaeology and attests to the influence of the great empires that surrounded Israel.

Artifacts help historians reconstruct the past, using layers of excavation to establish the chronology of the sites they excavate.

Stone and clay pillars, altars, and lampstands provide invaluable insights into ancient Israelite religious practices and their descriptions in the Hebrew Bible.