List of Archaeological Sites
From its foundation in 1890, the École biblique was contemporary with the first archaeological excavations in Palestine. It witnessed the development of scientific programmes and of the disciplines of field research.
Father Marie-Joseph Lagrange, the founder who wanted to read the Bible in the land of its birth, had conceived his historical-critical method by placing the text in its archaeological context, and against the wider background of Near Eastern studies. His first priority was to discover the land in order to understand it better. Lagrange inaugurated the explorations that were one of the École’s specialities for fifty years (1890-1940).
The exploratory journeys made with the students, the “Bible caravans”, were always the occasion for an archaeological and epigraphic harvest, carefully reported in the Revue biblique.
In chronological order, we must mention the explorations of the pioneers: Lagrange, Séjourné, then Jaussen and Savignac, accompanied by the young Vincent and Abel.
The explorations
- 1885-1892
Grounds of the École bibliqueExcavation to uncover the remains of the Byzantine basilica of Eudocia, with a view to its restoration.
- 1892
MadabaArchaeological and epigraphic survey.
- 1893 and 1896
SinaiArchaeological and epigraphic exploration.
- 1894
MasadaTopographical exploration.
- 1894
Transjordan and South LebanonEpigraphic survey.
- 1895
Jordan ValleyArchaeological and epigraphic survey.
- 1896 and 1898
PetraArchaeological and epigraphic exploration, in connection with the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, Paris.
- 1897
MadabaExamination of the Madaba Map: survey, coloured drawing and publication. Several stays in Madaba in the following years, with an ethnographic dimension.
- 1898
HauranSurvey and epigraphic recording.
- 1898
Feinan (Punon, Phounon)Discovery; survey and epigraphic recording.
- 1899
Tell GezerDetermination of the plan and boundaries, at the request of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.
- 1900
PhilistiaArchaeological and epigraphic survey.
- 1904
‘Abdeh in the Negev (‘Oboda / ‘Avdat)Archaeological and epigraphic survey, in connection with the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.
- 1907, 1909 and 1911
Northern Arabia, in the HijazExploration, archaeological and epigraphic harvest, with photographic coverage of the Nabataean sites of Mada’in Salih, al-‘Ula and Hereibeh by Jaussen and Savignac, in connection with the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.
- 1908-early 1909
Dead SeaThrough the Dead Sea cruise: archaeological, epigraphic, geographical and ethnographic mission.
- 1910-1913
Jordan ValleySeveral student journeys, yielding an archaeological and epigraphic harvest.
- 1911
Transjordan, the desert castlesArchitectural, epigraphic and iconographic survey, with photographs, following on from the Mission en Arabie.
- 1911
Jerusalem, Siloam Tunnel and underground passagesPhotographic coverage and systematic surveys on behalf of the English mission.
- 1914
The Palestinian coastThe ports, geography and archaeological survey.
- 1914
PalmyraEpigraphic and photographic mission for the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.
- 1915
AdenEpigraphic recording, by Jaussen.
- 1916
Islands of Ruad and KastellorizoExplored and photographed by Savignac.
Vincent and Abel’s great monographs
Louis-Hugues Vincent followed every excavation in the country, constantly seeking to draw a chronological synthesis from them; he thus acquired an archaeological expertise recognised by all. He is regarded as one of the founders of Palestinian archaeology.
With Félix-Marie Abel, L.-H. Vincent produced major monographs – architectural, archaeological, epigraphic and historical studies – on key monuments:
- 1911 to 1930
JerusalemThe Old City and its surroundings, in several volumes.
- 1911
BethlehemBasilica of the Nativity.
- 1920
HebronTomb of the Patriarchs.
Post-war explorations
Journeys, explorations and surveys resumed after the Great War, joined by young friars who arrived in the 1930s, such as Roland de Vaux and Pierre Benoit, or Tonneau, Barrois and Carrière.
- 1921 and 1937
Ain QedeisArchaeological survey, photographic recording.
- 1922
Nabi SamwilThe Crusader church.
- 1935
Jebel Haroun, PetraSurvey, photographs.
- 1935
TappuahIdentification of the biblical site.
- 1938
Salt regionArchaeological and epigraphic survey.
- 1950
BethanyEpigraphic examination of a cave covered with graffiti.
- 1993-1998
Northern JordanExploration of Early Bronze Age sites, with a Spanish team.
Occasional excavations
Excavations were carried out occasionally and on a modest scale:
- 1919-1921
Ain DuqExcavation of the Byzantine synagogue.
- 1921
NablusExcavation of a Roman hypogeum.
- 1921-1924
Beit JibrinExcavation of a Roman villa, at the request of the British Mandate Department of Antiquities.
- 1924
Khirbet HeleilehClearance of a Byzantine church.
- 1924-1925
AmwasByzantine excavations around the medieval basilica.
- 1932 and 1934
Wadi RammExcavation of the Nabataean temple, at the request of the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, then of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.
- 1963
Khan SalibaA Byzantine hermitage.
Major excavations
The major archaeological excavations led by R. de Vaux, J. Prignaud and J.-B. Humbert:
- 1915
Eleonte, near GallipoliRescue excavation of a Hellenistic settlement.
- 1926
Tell Neirab, near Aleppo (Syria)Excavation of Late Iron Age levels. Project proposed by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.
- 1944
Abu GhoshCaravanserai adjoining the Crusader church.
- 1946-1960
Tell el-Farʽah9 campaigns at Tirzah, capital of Israel before Samaria.
- 1951-1956
Khirbet QumranExploration of the caves from 1951, then 4 excavation campaigns at the Essene settlement, Department of Antiquities of Jordan.
- 1952
Wadi MurabbaʽatExcavation of the Bar Kokhba refuge, Department of Antiquities of Jordan.
- 1956 and 1961-1963
JerusalemAt the southern foot of the Esplanade of the Mosques, Department of Antiquities of Jordan, joint expedition with the British School of Archaeology.
- 1958
Ain FeshkhaExcavation of a site dependent on Qumran, Department of Antiquities of Jordan.
- 1959-1976
Holy SepulchreArchitectural restoration by Ch. Coüasnon, on behalf of the Custody of the Holy Land.
- 1971-1980
Tell Keisan (Galilee)Eight campaigns, Iron Age levels in southern Phoenicia.
- 1981-1991
Khirbet al-Samra (Jordan)A Roman, then Byzantine, settlement.
- 1986
Mafraq (Jordan)Soundings in an Umayyad palace.
- 1988-1989; 1991 and 1994
Amman, the Citadel (Jordan)Remains of a Neo-Assyrian palace, joint project with the Department of Antiquities of Jordan.
Gaza
Cooperation mission with the Palestinian Department of Antiquities in Gaza:
- 1995-1997; 1999; 2003-2005; 2012
BlakhiyahIron Age II levels up to the Roman period.
- 1997
Abassan el-KabirRestoration of a Byzantine hermitage.
- 1999
Abu BarakehRemoval of a mosaic pavement.
- 1998-2020
Mukheitim (Jabaliyah)Excavation of a Byzantine ecclesiastical establishment; restoration project 2017-2021 in partnership with Première Urgence Internationale, under the scientific authority of the École biblique.
- 2002-2020
Umm al-‘Amr (St Hilarion Monastery)Systematic and/or rescue excavations in cooperation with the Palestinian Department of Antiquities; restoration project 2017-2021 in partnership with Première Urgence Internationale, under the scientific authority of the École biblique.
Recent work in Jerusalem
- 2008-2009
Jerusalem, Tomb of the KingsMonumental Herodian tomb.
- 2010-2011
Jerusalem, crypt of the Church of St John the BaptistReligious building from Late Antiquity, under the aegis of UNESCO.
- 2011
Jerusalem, Mount of OlivesOutbuildings of the Eleona basilica, under the aegis of the Consulate General of France in Jerusalem.
- 2013
Grounds of St Stephen’s PrioryRescue excavation of Mamluk remains.
Your gift helps the École biblique continue its excavations, research and publications.