10 Exciting Discoveries in Near Eastern Archaeology in 2023

A couple weeks ago, I shared Archaeology Magazine’s top 10 discoveries of the year in overall archaeology. This week you can compare that to Ancient Near East Today ‘s “Ten Exciting Discoveries in Near Eastern Archaeology in 2023.” There are a couple overlaps between the two articles, the oldest book which was found in Egypt and a cache of Roman era swords in Israel.

Exciting Discoveries in Near Eastern Archaeology, A Map

However, my favorite isn’t one of those two picked up by Archaeology. The discovery I find most engaging is the Oldest Building Plans Drawn To Scale (c. 5000 & 6000 BCE; Jordan, Saudi Arabia). This stone carving depicts a huge hunting trap from a bird’s eye view. Archaeologists recognize the actual structure it shows.

So, around 5000 BCE a group of people show “evidence of complex visualization of space and design.” As far as I know, there are no extant maps from around 1250 BCE when I set my fiction. But I have given some key characters the ability to lay out maps and plan coordinated activities using them, as is surmised happened with this hunting trap drawing. I feel vindicated given this much earlier example. But also, I think this is just plain cool and it’s my favorite of the exciting discoveries in Near Eastern archaeology.

Dating, Translation, and Wine

Also, there’s a new dating methodology, archaeomagnetism, that can date fired clay bricks with great precision. Wow. That seems huge. The Queen of Sheba and King Solomon get a boost from a recent translation of a previously indecipherable inscription. No evidence of the rumored romantic connections. But yes, it does provide further indication of connections between the cultures of these two famous people. (Painting at top is by Sir Edward John Poynter of the Queen of Sheba presented to Solomon, wiki) Archaeologists found sealed wine jars in the tomb of Queen Meret-Neith in Egypt. As the research progresses we will learn a great deal about ancient wine making from this discovery.

Exploring the Whole List

Explore these ten intriguing discoveries. I know I’m prejudiced, but I think the Near Eastern focused finds are overall more fun to think about. But then, I spend my days writing fiction set in this world, so you might take that endorsement with a pile of salt.