The Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) have announced the discovery of an Egyptian scarab, dated to around the time period of the book of Joshua in the Bible, it was reported in late January.
The ABR has been conducting excavations in Israel since 1995 at Khirbet el-Maqatir (9 miles north of Jerusalem), which meets the biblical requirements to be identified as the fortress of Ai conquered by the Israelites, as recorded in Joshua 7-8. Pottery excavated at the site indicates the fortress was in use in the Late Bronze period, circa 1500-1400 BC.
The scarab is a rare type that was made in the early 18th dynasty, 1485-1418 BC. This is a significant discovery, since it provides an independent date for the fortress apart from pottery. According to the Bible, the Israelites left Egypt in 1446 BC and entered Canaan in 1406 BC. The scarab substantiates the historical accuracy of the narratives found in Joshua.
