Top Archaeological Discoveries of 2025
By Jessica Nitschke
We offer you our annual list of some of the most exciting breakthroughs and discoveries in the archaeology of the Middle East and North Africa announced in 2025. Think we overlooked something? What’s on your list? Let us know in the comments!
Friends of ASOR Webinar: Michael Hundley on December 17
Join Friends of ASOR for the next webinar in the 2025–2026 season: “What is a God? The Bible and the Ancient Near East,” presented by Dr. Michael Hundley on Wednesday, December 17 at 7:00pm ET. With an assist from the Cognitive Science of Religion, this presentation attempts to reconstruct ancient perceptions of gods in the Ancient Near East and the Bible. It draws from and expands upon Dr. Hundley’s four-part series in Ancient Near East Today, as well as his previous and current book projects. Read more about the webinar and register for free here.
Latest Archaeology News:
Archaeologists return to Ugarit after 14 years (Arkeonews)
Huge section of Jerusalem’s Hasmonean city wall found beneath prison (Haaretz)
Ancient Egyptian pleasure boat found by archaeologists off Alexandrian coast (The Guardian)
Pompeii victims wore thick wool cloaks, calling into question the date of the eruption (LBV)
Archaeologists found an ancient tablet with 39 letters that don’t belong to any known language (Popular Mechanics)
Object of the Week:
Statuettes and figurines of “temple boys” — male infants sitting on the ground, dressed in tunics or naked, occasionally adorned with fabulous amulet necklaces, as here — have been found at multiple sanctuaries on Cyprus and the Levant in the latter half of the first millennium BCE. Their meaning is debated, but they are often interpreted as votive offerings to deities in exchange for the protection of a child or perhaps as part of a rite of passage ritual.
What We’re Reading:
Tutankhamun was decapitated 100 years ago — why the excavation is a great shame instead of a triumph (The Conversation)
Signatures meant more in Mesopotamia than they do now – what cylinder seals say about ancient and modern life (The Conversation)
Ancient World Gift Guide (Pasts Imperfect)
What We’re Listening To:
The Ten Commandments, with Dylan Johnson (The Ancients | History Hit)
The Achaemenid Period, with Mary Buck (OnScript / Biblical World)
Ea-nasir: Everyone’s favourite Copper Merchant (Thin End of the Wedge)
What We’re Watching:
Lab’ayu of Shechem: Amarna Era Supervillain (Dig)
The Last Days of Zeugma (Histoire & Civilisations)
The Middle East Cultural Heritage Crisis and Why it Matters with Tim Harrison (ASOR 2025 Plenary Address)
From the ANE Today Archives:
Genderbending Performances in Wartime: From Judges to Judith
By Jacob Wright
Some Biblical women were warriors and their roles were celebrated by the texts. But their heroism is more complicated as are the terms of their commemoration. Read more here.
Friends of ASOR Cyprus Tour: Advance Rates Expire Dec. 15
Join us next summer for ASOR’s first-ever Archaeological Tour of Cyprus, taking place June 14–23, 2026. Advance registration rates expire December 15th and only 12 spots remain. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting tour. Learn more and reserve your spot here!
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Published with the assistance of The Lanier Theological Library and Stevan Dana
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