In this gripping episode of Biblical Archaeology from the Ground Down, hosts Dr. George Sparks and Dr. David E. Graves sit down with Jordan McClinton, the seasoned area supervisor for Area D at Tel Shiloh, to unearth the shimmering secrets of one of the Bible’s most pivotal sites. Fresh from the 2025 excavation season, McClinton recounts his four year journey digging through the dusty layers of ancient Shiloh—the central sanctuary where the Tabernacle stood for over 300 years during Israel’s formative era (Josh. 18:1; 1 Sam. 1–4). But this isn’t just about trowels and trenches; it’s about striking gold—literally.
Tune in as McClinton details the jaw-dropping discoveries from a Late Bronze Age favissa (a ritual refuse pit for discarded sacred offerings) in Area D: several rare golden pendants, possibly sacrificial offerings and jewelry echoing the Exodus plunder (Exod. 12:35–36), alongside cultic artifacts hinting at high-stakes sacrificial rites. How much gold did they really find? McClinton breaks it down, weighing the haul’s quantity against its profound implications for understanding Israelite worship. Was this bling part of priestly regalia, like the golden bells on Aaron’s robe (Exod. 28:33–35)? Or evidence of a thriving cultic economy at Shiloh’s sacred core?
McClinton fields our toughest questions on the site’s strategic location atop a defensible hill, its ties to the Tabernacle’s mobile altar, and how these finds bridge the gap between biblical narrative and hard evidence. From sifting wet soil for overlooked treasures to debating the site’s destruction by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4), this episode reveals how Shiloh’s gold glimmers with clues to Israel’s spiritual heartland. Perfect for archaeology buffs, Bible students, and history sleuths—don’t miss the dig that turns dirt into divine drama!
Books by Dr. Graves available at Amazon. See the list here:
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