Nathan Steinmeyer
- Communications Specialist, University of Notre Dame
Israel
As seen in:
Biblical Archaeology Review,
The Hillsdale Collegian
- Dad
- Assyriology Ph.D.
- Tel Aviv University alum
- Hebrew U alum
- Hillsdale College alum
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Nathan Steinmeyer
Ebedmelech-A Remarkable Figure in Jerusalem’s Final Days
Ebedmelech—A Remarkable Figure in Jerusalem’s Final Days Servant of the king Robin Gallaher Branch October 29, 2026 0 Comments 45423 views Share The Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem Francesco Hayez, 1867. PD-US-expired Ebedmelech, a Judahite official whom the Bible identifies as a Cushite,1 makes a brief but command appearance in the Book of Jeremiah during the horrifying Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, c. 588–586 B.C.E. (Jeremiah 38:7–13).
Biblical Archaeology Society - Tell Qasile
Tell Qasile Between the Philistines and the Canaanites Marek Dospěl October 28, 2026 0 Comments 55 views Share Tell Qasile at the outskirts of modern Tel Aviv was a Philistine harbor on the Yarkon River. Photo by Aviad Bar Ness, Courtesy Muza–Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv. At the outskirts of modern-day Tel Aviv, the archaeological site of Tell Qasile remains a silent witness to an ancient society from the days of the biblical Judges.
The Emmaus Trail
The Emmaus Trail Jerusalem’s newest hiking trail visits a site from the Gospels and more Henri Gourinard October 11, 2026 2 Comments 51044 views Share A section of the new Emmaus Trail, which allows hikers to walk from the outskirts of Jerusalem through the picturesque Judean foothills to one of the possible sites of Emmaus Nicopolis. Photo courtesy Henri Gourinard.
Is the World’s Oldest House Church in Dura-Europos?
Is the World’s Oldest House Church in Dura-Europos? Reconsidering a century-old interpretation Nathan Steinmeyer August 27, 2026 0 Comments 43276 views Share The house church of Dura Europos? The Christian building, looking west, 1932-1933. Dura-Europos Collection, Yale University Art Gallery, neg. dura-fIV31-01. Courtesy of Yale University Art Gallery.
Tomb of Kings Now Open!
Tomb of Kings Now Open! Krystal V.L. Pierce August 23, 2026 0 Comments 69387 views Share Tomb of the Kings, Jerusalem, Israel Credit: Krystal V.L. Pierce After more than a decade of renovations totaling almost one million euros ($1,100,000), the Tomb of the Kings in Jerusalem is open to the public. Medieval Europeans believed the site contained the burials of King David and King Solomon, and although this theory has been disproved, the name is still attached to the site.
Biblical Family Tree or Ancient Map?
Biblical Family Tree or Ancient Map? Genesis 10 and the Table of Nations Nathan Steinmeyer August 14, 2026 0 Comments 7816 views Share Sixteenth-century stylized map of the world, with Jerusalem at its center. Heinrich Bünting, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. What is a biblical family tree if not a family tree? Genesis 10 famously presents the so-called “Table of Nations,” a long list of the descendants of Noah, together with the different lands where they resided.
The Gezer Calendar
The Gezer Calendar An Israelite almanac or a writing exercise? Marek Dospěl August 12, 2026 0 Comments 62 views Share Close-up of the Gezer Calendar. Credit: Istanbul Archaeology Museums, via Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY 3.0. The so-called Gezer Calendar is a small limestone slab inscribed with a list of agricultural activities covering one full year. Thought to date from the tenth century BCE, it is one of the earliest known Canaanite inscriptions from Judah.
Mysterious Mercenaries
Mysterious Mercenaries The Shardanu warriors in the Levant Marek Dospěl August 05, 2026 1 Comments 1797 views Share A stone tower nuraghe) at Nuraghe Losa in western Sardinia. Photo by Mauro Spanu / Alamy. The biblical King David, before he became leader of the Israelites, was a mercenary who sold his services to the Philistine king of Gath. This was nothing out of ordinary, as mercenaries were an integral part of many ancient armies, beginning in the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550–1100 BCE).
The Shroud of Turin: Anything Left to Say?
The Shroud of Turin: Anything Left to Say? The history of Christianity’s most controversial relic. Andrea Nicolotti August 04, 2026 37 Comments 79729 views Share The Shroud of Turin is a linen sheet long claimed to feature the image of the tortured body of Jesus of Nazareth. It has been kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Turin. Credit: Photo by Giuseppe Enrie, 1931, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Who Were the Sea Peoples?
Who Were the Sea Peoples? Exploring references in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Zachary Thomas July 27, 2026 0 Comments 3956 views Share Captured “Sea Peoples” depicted on the wall of Ramesses III’s mortuary temple at Medinet Habu. Photo by Glenn Corbett, BAS.
Excavating Banias
Excavating Banias New discoveries rewrite the story of Pan’s grotto Nathan Steinmeyer June 03, 2026 0 Comments 12755 views Share Aerial view of Pan’s Grotto and the surroundings at Banias. Photo by D. Gahali. Courtesy Erlich and Lavi. Banias is, without a doubt, one of the more breathtaking natural archaeological sites in the Holy Land, a large spring-fed cavern surrounded by the ruins of Roman-era temples at the foot of Mt. Hermon.
Who Is Balaam Son of Beor? Part One
Who Is Balaam Son of Beor? Part One Examining the figure of Balaam in the Bible Nathan Steinmeyer May 19, 2026 4 Comments 111583 views Share Balaam son of Beor on his donkey, from Numbers 22. Credit: Eric Carlson Balaam son of Beor is one of the most enigmatic figures in the Hebrew Bible, and one of the earliest to be referenced outside the biblical text.
More Than Meets the Trowel
More Than Meets the Trowel Exceptional discoveries from ordinary finds Nathan Steinmeyer February 25, 2026 0 Comments 1451 views Share Rising with the sun at the Azekah excavations in Israel. Photo by Efrat Sheffi, Courtesy Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition. In joining an excavation for the first time, many dig volunteers might dream of discovering the Ark of the Covenant, the next Rosetta Stone, or a magnificent golden statue hidden away in the remains of some ancient temple.
Sennacherib’s Siege of Lachish
Sennacherib’s Siege of Lachish Study reveals how Assyria conquered the Judahite city Nathan Steinmeyer February 19, 2026 0 Comments 30491 views Share A section of the Assyrian siege ramp as seen on the Lachish relief from Sennacherib’s palace at Nineveh.
What Is the Shephelah?
What Is the Shephelah? Exploring the heartland of ancient Judah Nathan Steinmeyer January 28, 2026 0 Comments 16215 views Share Looking out over the Elah Valley from on top of Tel Azekah. Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. The Shephelah, also known as the Judean Foothills, is one of many geographic regions mentioned in the Bible. However, for those who have never visited the Holy Land, it is a place that can be hard to picture. So, what is the Shephelah?
The Home of Nero’s Wife at Pompeii
The Home of Nero’s Wife at Pompeii Renewed excavations at the Villa of Poppaea Nathan Steinmeyer January 12, 2026 0 Comments 2886 views Share Newly excavated Fresco from the Villa of Poppaea. Courtesy Pompeii Archaeological Park. Renewed excavations near Pompeii are revealing more of the incredible riches of a house believed to be the home of Emperor Nero’s second wife, Poppaea.
Temple of the Sun Discovered at Abusir
Temple of the Sun Discovered at Abusir Excavations reveal unparalleled sun temple Nathan Steinmeyer January 09, 2026 0 Comments 26 views Share Massive lintel from the sun temple at Abusir. Courtesy Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Archaeologists working at the site of Abusir, one of the main burial grounds of the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, have uncovered an extensive temple complex dedicated to the solar deity.
OnSite: Petra
OnSite: Petra In this video, explore the capital of the Nabateans! Nathan Steinmeyer & Glenn Corbett January 08, 2026 0 Comments 27926 views Share Petra’s famous Khazneh. Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. Tucked away in the sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan sits a wonder of the ancient world: Petra of the Nabateans.
Replacing Archaeologists with AI
Replacing Archaeologists with AI Archaeologists create a semi-autonomous detection system Nathan Steinmeyer January 05, 2026 0 Comments 2660 views Share Can AI replace archaeologists? https://www.vpnsrus.com/, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Although you probably won’t see robots walking around an excavation site anytime soon, that doesn’t mean some archaeological tasks are not already being handled by artificial intelligence (AI).
Ancient Ritual Bath Found Near Western Wall
Ancient Ritual Bath Found Near Western Wall Excavations uncover mikveh from Second Temple period Nathan Steinmeyer January 02, 2026 0 Comments 3072 views Share Excavating the Second Temple mikveh. Courtesy Emil Aladjam, IAA. Excavations beneath the plaza in front of Jerusalem’s Western Wall have revealed a mikveh dating to the final days of the Second Temple period, immediately before the Roman army’s destruction of the city in 70 CE.
Digging Through Time at Chorazin
Digging Through Time at Chorazin Help excavate a synagogue where Jesus preached Achia Kohn-Tavor December 31, 2025 0 Comments 19 views Share Columns and architrave from inside the Chorazin synagogue in northern Galilee. Photo by Nathan Steinmeyer/BAS.
Top Ten Biblical Archaeology Stories of 2025
Top Ten Biblical Archaeology Stories of 2025 Bible History Daily’s Year in Review Nathan Steinmeyer December 29, 2025 0 Comments 18 views Share What were the top ten biblical archaeology stories of 2025? As the year winds down, we look back at some of the most popular news stories published on Bible History Daily in 2025. From newly identified temples in Jerusalem to discoveries about Egyptian pharaohs, this year provided some incredible archaeological news.
Israel Under Assyrian Rule
Israel Under Assyrian Rule Ancient cremains show the Jezreel’s agricultural importance Nathan Steinmeyer December 26, 2025 0 Comments 2857 views Share Assyrian cylinder seal from Horvat Tevet. Courtesy Omer Peleg et al. What can a burial tell us about Assyrian administrative control over ancient Israel? Maybe a lot more than we think.
December 25th and Christmas
December 25th and Christmas When did December 25 become the date for Christmas? Megan Sauter December 25, 2025 19 Comments 36783 views Share This article was updated on December 19, 2025. When did December 25 become the date for Christmas? In the Winter 2022 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, T.C. Schmidt argues for an early association of Jesus’s birth with December 25 in his article, “Calculating Christmas: Hippolytus and December 25th.” He explains why this date was selected.
Cryptic Qumran Code Broken?
Cryptic Qumran Code Broken? Possible breakthrough in reading mystery scroll script Nathan Steinmeyer December 22, 2025 0 Comments 5 views Share The word Israel, written in Qumran Cryptic B. Courtesy of the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library, Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Photograph: Shai Halevi. The Dead Sea Scrolls were written in a wide range of languages and scripts, including two scripts written in code, commonly known as Cryptic A and B.
A Mysterious Menorah Pendant
A Mysterious Menorah Pendant Lead amulet uncovered in Jerusalem Nathan Steinmeyer December 19, 2025 0 Comments 45 views Share The rare menorah pendant discovered near the Temple Mount. Courtesy Eliyahu Yanai, City of David. According to historical sources, Jews were barred from entering Jerusalem during the Byzantine period (c. 324–634 CE). How then did a lead pendant, decorated with an image of the Temple menorah, end up in the ruins of a Byzantine structure near the Temple Mount?
Identifying Pi Ramesses
Identifying Pi Ramesses Archaeology and the date of the Exodus Nathan Steinmeyer December 17, 2025 0 Comments 19861 views Share Mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as one of the two cities in which the Israelites labored during their servitude in Egypt, Pi Ramesses—biblical Raamses (Exodus 1:11)—is fascinating for a several reasons, not the least of which is that it could help date the period of the Exodus. At least, that is what some archaeologists think.
Uncovering Jerusalem’s First Wall
Uncovering Jerusalem’s First Wall Stretch of Hasmonean wall found in Tower of David excavations Nathan Steinmeyer December 15, 2025 0 Comments 1 views Share Uncovering of the Hasmonean wall in the Tower of David. Courtesy Gabriel Volcovich, Tower of David Jerusalem Museum. The largest section of Jerusalem’s Hasmonean wall ever discovered has been uncovered in the Tower of David Museum complex, near the modern Jaffa Gate.
Tomb of Ancient Greek Noblewoman Discovered
Tomb of Ancient Greek Noblewoman Discovered Excavations reveal remarkable burial Nathan Steinmeyer December 12, 2025 0 Comments 2769 views Share The bronze diadem. Courtesy Hellenic Republic Ministry of Culture. During salvage excavations in central Greece, archaeologists discovered a cemetery dating to the Archaic and Classical periods (c. 800–323 BCE).
The Origins of Judaism
The Origins of Judaism When did the laws of the Torah become the norm? Marek Dospěl December 11, 2025 9 Comments 31624 views Share Public ritual bath from the Herodian fortress at Masada, and the origins of Judaism. The massive emergence of similar pools across Judea, in accordance with the purity laws of the Torah, corresponds with the origins of Judaism in the mid-second century BCE. Photo by Talmoryair, CC BY 3.0. Where can we situate the origins of Judaism?
Back to Ugarit
Back to Ugarit Archaeologists return to northwestern Syria Nathan Steinmeyer December 08, 2025 1 Comments 2386 views Share Stela of Baal with lightning, from acropolis Ugarit. Courtesy Photo Companion to the Bible, Genesis. After nearly a decade and a half, archaeologists have returned to northwestern Syria, digging in the shadow of the important Late Bronze Age (c. 1550–1200 BCE) city of Ugarit.
The Birth of Writing
The Birth of Writing Proto-cuneiform tablet discovered in southern Iraq Nathan Steinmeyer December 05, 2025 1 Comments 3921 views Share Proto-Cuneiform tablet from Tell Zurghul. Courtesy Sapienza University of Rome. Undoubtedly, writing is one of humanity’s most significant inventions, emerging in the ancient Near East, in both Mesopotamia and Egypt, nearly simultaneously.
What Is the Best Bible Translation?
What Is the Best Bible Translation? Learn more in BAS’s guide to Bible translations and editions Nathan Steinmeyer December 04, 2025 21 Comments 43583 views Share Best Bible translation? Collection of Bibles in various languages. Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer. What is the best Bible translation? It’s a simple question, but the answer is far from straightforward. There are dozens of modern English translations and hundreds of different editions available.
Mapping Troy’s Luwian Context
Mapping Troy’s Luwian Context Study maps Bronze Age Anatolian sites Nathan Steinmeyer December 03, 2025 0 Comments 2983 views Share This fingernail-sized bronze seal is the only written document ever recovered from Bronze Age Troy. It is inscribed with Luwian hieroglyphs. Courtesy Alper et al. For some, the first thing the name “Troy” brings to mind is the 2004 Brad Pitt film, if not the ancient Homeric epic, the Iliad, on which the movie is loosely based.
Is Sheshonq Buried at Tanis?
Is Sheshonq Buried at Tanis? Figurine trove may reveal Pharaoh Sheshonq III’s last resting place Nathan Steinmeyer November 28, 2025 0 Comments 2613 views Share The ushabti figurines of Pharaoh Sheshonq III. Courtesy Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. While carrying out conservation work within the tomb of Pharaoh Osorkon II (r. 872–837 BCE), a French archaeology team was shocked to discover a trove of 225 ushabti figurines bearing the name of Pharaoh Sheshonq III (r. 841–803 BCE).
The Woman and the Goose
The Woman and the Goose Artistic depictions in the Natufian Galilee Nathan Steinmeyer November 24, 2025 0 Comments 225 views Share Carrying out excavations at a prehistoric village overlooking the Sea of Galilee, archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem uncovered a small clay figurine unlike anything discovered before: a depiction of a woman with a goose draped across her shoulders.
Canaanite Folk Worship at Megiddo
Canaanite Folk Worship at Megiddo Ram-shaped vessel and ancient winepress found at Armageddon Nathan Steinmeyer November 21, 2025 0 Comments 3081 views Share The assemblage of ritual objects discovered in the excavation.
Deconstructing Delilah
Deconstructing Delilah Revisiting one of the Bible’s most maligned women Lila Wolk November 21, 2025 0 Comments 10147 views Share Feminist biblical scholars have spent years reframing the women of the Bible through new lenses. As the field of biblical studies expands, so do the perspectives and voices of those who participate, lending new insights and perspectives on characters that have traditionally been marginalized in the text.
Finding Jesus at Chorazin
Finding Jesus at Chorazin A video tour of the Galilean synagogue where Jesus preached BAS Staff November 11, 2026 0 Comments 6147 views Share The Synagogue of Chorazin. Courtesy Achia Kohn-Tavor. It seems like almost every year, archaeologists uncover another ancient synagogue in the Holy Land.
World’s Oldest Cosmogony
World’s Oldest Cosmogony Bronze Age goblet may feature earliest depiction of the cosmos Nathan Steinmeyer November 09, 2026 0 Comments 8754 views Share Reproduction of the artistic depiction of the cosmos on the Ain Samiya goblet. Courtesy Israel Museum, Jerusalem, by Florika Weiner. The Ain Samiya goblet has been an enigma since it was first discovered in 1970, near the West Bank city of Nablus.
Another Bronze Age Temple in Kuwait
Another Bronze Age Temple in Kuwait Overlapping temples on Failaka Island Nathan Steinmeyer November 04, 2026 0 Comments 5643 views Share Excavations at the Bronze Age temple on Failaka Island. Courtesy NCCAL. Archaeologists working in Kuwait made a remarkable discovery when they uncovered the remains of a Bronze Age temple on Failaka Island. Only a year earlier, the team had discovered another Bronze Age temple on the island.
When Sugar Grew in the Holy Land
When Sugar Grew in the Holy Land Medieval sugar mill discovered Nathan Steinmeyer November 02, 2026 0 Comments 5510 views Share Amos Frumkin in a channal of the Mamluk sugar mill. Niche for an oil lamp marked in red. Courtesy Frumkin. When envisioning the agricultural produce of the Holy Land, sugar is not what comes to most people’s minds, but for much of the Middle Ages, many areas of the Levant were important production centers for water-needy sugar cane.
Roman Soldiers Buried in a Croatian Well
Roman Soldiers Buried in a Croatian Well Mass grave reveals bloody conflict Nathan Steinmeyer October 28, 2026 0 Comments 5532 views Share The location of the mass grave within the excavation area of the new university library. Courtesy Novak et al. Editor’s Note: The following article contains photos of human remains.
Celebrating 100 Years of Megiddo Excavations
Celebrating 100 Years of Megiddo Excavations Special exhibit at Chicago’s ISAC Museum Nathan Steinmeyer October 31, 2025 0 Comments 2574 views Share Through March 15, 2026 Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) Museum Chicago, IL isac.uchicago.edu Since the shovel hit earth, excavations at the site of ancient Megiddo in northern Israel have, in many ways, defined biblical archaeology.
Burial in Biblical Judah
Burial in Biblical Judah How did biblical people bury their dead? Nathan Steinmeyer October 29, 2025 0 Comments 228 views Share While not as monumental as the pyramids of ancient Egypt, tombs and burials are often among the most visible archaeological features of an ancient society. That is no less true for biblical Judah, a society whose burial practices are seen in both the archaeological record and the Hebrew Bible.
New Kingdom Fortress Discovered in Sinai
New Kingdom Fortress Discovered in Sinai Fortress sheds light on ancient Egypt’s eastern border Nathan Steinmeyer October 21, 2026 0 Comments 8283 views Share Egyptian fortress wall in the Sinai near Gaza. Courtesy Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The Way of Horus was a critical trade route connecting ancient Egypt to the greater Near Eastern world. It was so important, in fact, that during the New Kingdom period (c.
An Assyrian Letter to the King of Judah
An Assyrian Letter to the King of Judah Evidence of Assyrian authority found in Jerusalem Nathan Steinmeyer October 24, 2025 0 Comments 150 views Share For the first time, a fragment of a cuneiform inscription from the First Temple period (c. 1000–586 BCE) has been excavated in Jerusalem. The inscription, believed to be part of a royal correspondence between the court of the Assyrian Empire and the royal court of Judah, pertains to a delay in payment, possibly of a required tax.
Who Is Balaam Son of Beor? Part Two
Who Is Balaam Son of Beor? Part Two Examining the figure of Balaam in later traditions Nathan Steinmeyer October 23, 2025 2 Comments 27412 views Share Balaam is one of the most enigmatic figures in the Hebrew Bible, and one of the earliest to be referenced outside the biblical text. In the first part of our series on Balaam, we discussed how, within his main pericope (Numbers 22–24), he is presented as neither a friend nor foe of Israel.
Byzantine Synagogue Uncovered in the Golan
Byzantine Synagogue Uncovered in the Golan Archaeologists find lost synagogue beneath abandoned village Nathan Steinmeyer October 14, 2026 0 Comments 5015 views Share Architectural pieces from the Byzantine synagogue. Courtesy Mechael Osband Archaeologists have long suspected that an ancient synagogue lay beneath the ruins of an abandoned village in the western Golan. Now, they have finally found it.
The Origins of Egypt’s Karnak Temple
The Origins of Egypt’s Karnak Temple Sacred complex may have been built on island symbolizing creation Nathan Steinmeyer October 17, 2025 0 Comments 3256 views Share Famous within biblical archaeology for its conquest relief of Pharaoh Shoshenq I (biblical Shishak), the temple complex at Karnak was one of the most important religious sites in ancient Egypt. However, since the beginning of excavations at the site, Karnak’s origins have been poorly understood.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Nathan
Contact Nathan, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack