Archaeologists excavating at biblical Shiloh, an ancient city in the West Bank, have uncovered new evidence that they believe strengthens the theory that the site was the original home of the Ark of the Covenant. The discoveries, made by the Associates for Biblical Research (ABR), include additional walls of a large structure believed to be the Tabernacle, along with artifacts associated with worship and newly identified fortifications.
Dr. Scott Stripling, director of the Tel Shiloh excavation, stated that the latest findings help researchers reconstruct the building's dimensions and understand its purpose. The most significant breakthrough was the discovery of the structure's southern wall. The building is oriented east to west and its proportions are similar to those described in the Bible for the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary built after the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt.
Last year, Stripling's team announced the discovery of a monumental building from the Iron I period whose dimensions aligned with biblical descriptions of the Tabernacle. While the latest findings do not definitively prove the structure is the Tabernacle, archaeologists assert they strengthen the case. "The discovery of the southern wall now enables our researchers to reconstruct the full dimensions of the building and better evaluate its function and significance," Stripling said.
Excavators also unearthed numerous worship-related objects in and around the structure, including altar horns, ceramic pomegranates, and murex shells. The murex shells are notable as they were used to produce the blue dye associated with priestly garments mentioned in scripture. Previous excavations at Shiloh yielded over 100,000 animal bones, predominantly from sheep, goats, and cattle, with many from the right side of the animal, mirroring a Levitical passage concerning priestly offerings.
Shiloh holds a significant place in biblical history, described as the location where the Israelites established the Tabernacle after entering the Promised Land. It was also the home of the high priest Eli and the place where the prophet Samuel was raised, serving as Israel's first religious and political capital. According to the biblical account in 1 Samuel 4, the Ark of the Covenant was taken from Shiloh to a battle against the Philistines, where it was captured.
This excavation season also uncovered additional walls of Shiloh's northern fortification system, revealing a bent-axis gate complex with multiple rooms, offering new insights into the city's defenses and urban planning. These discoveries may also align with the biblical account of Eli's death near the city gate.
In a separate area of the site, archaeologists found three large Canaanite storage jars dating to the period before the Israelites' arrival. These jars contained charred remains of olives, wheat, and lentils. Radiocarbon testing is planned for the contents to establish a more precise date for the destruction layer associated with these finds. "These discoveries provide an important window into the earliest occupational phases of Shiloh and help us better understand the site's history before the Israelite settlement," Stripling noted.
Archaeologists emphasized that they have not found the Ark of the Covenant itself, nor have they definitively proven that the monumental structure is the Tabernacle. The discovered artifacts and structures, however, provide new evidence that aligns with the biblical narrative. The fate of the Ark remains unknown, as it disappears from the biblical record before the Babylonian sack of Jerusalem in 586 BC. A theory also suggests the Ark was designed using ancient Egyptian religious symbols as a theological statement of the Israelite God's superiority. 
