Dig Discounts Bible Story Of Jericho

No ash. No rubble. No fallen walls of Jericho.

In fact, two Italian archaeologists said Wednesday, a month-long dig turned up no evidence to support the biblical story that the ancient West Bank city was taken over by the Israelite commander Joshua.

According to the Old Testament, Joshua and his troops stormed the city around 1400 B.C. The Bible says the walls of Jericho tumbled down after Joshua’s priests circled them, blowing trumpets, for seven days.

But two University of Rome archaeologists said their dig this spring at Jericho, 10 miles east of Jerusalem, found no layer of rubble and ash or other evidence that the city was sacked during the time of Joshua.