JerichoArchaeologyDestruction LayerChronology

What Did Jericho's Archaeological Layers Reveal in 1580 BC?

See how Jericho's destruction layers align with early Canaanite narratives—explore the app to view excavation data live.

Timeline Focus: 1400 BCE

The Surprising Reality

In Jericho around 1580 BC, archaeologists uncovered collapsed walls still echoing the sound of crumbling mudbrick.

🤔The Context Question

But here's what most people don't realize: scholars disagree on the dating of Jericho's destruction—some say it predates the conquest, others align it with Joshua's time.

📚What We Know

Kathleen Kenyon dated Jericho's destruction to around 1580 BC and claimed the city was abandoned in Joshua's day. But Bryant Wood later reanalyzed the pottery and argued for a 1400 BC destruction matching biblical chronology. Understanding the full debate requires exploring stratigraphy and competing interpretations on the timeline slider.

Explore the Full Context

Jump to 1400 BC and see exactly what the archaeological layers show—discover how this debate affects views of the conquest.

Explore Interactive Timeline & Map

See the complete historical context with our interactive map and timeline

🔗Related Topics

person

Kathleen Kenyon

Explore in interactive app →

place

Jericho

Explore in interactive app →

📖Biblical References

📜Joshua 6:20‑25

Scripture references supporting this historical context