Year Found,

Date. Language/

Name/Location

Excavator/Discoverer

Script

Contents/Biblical Significance

Rosetta Stone, near village of Rosetta, Egypt

1799, Captain Boussard of Napoleon’s Army. Translated by J.F. Champollion in 1822.

Approx. 200 B.C.; Greek, Demotic, Hieroglyphys (latter two are Egyptian).

Decree by priests of Memphis honoring Ptolemy V, Epiphanes. Same decree in three languages, Greek at bottom. Champollion produced Hieroglyphic grammar and dictionary — door opened to deciphering other inscriptions.

Sheshonk Inscription, Karnak (Thebes) temple of Amun, Egypt

1825, then 1896. Flinders Petrie recognized significance in 1896.

920 B.C. (approx.) Egyptian Hieroglyphys.

Sheshonk’s victories over various towns of Israel. Confirms record of this campaign in 1 Kings 14:25–26.

Tayior Prism, Nineveh, Iraq

1830, J.E. Taylor.

685 B.C., Akkadian (Neo-Assyrian).

691 B.C. Annals of Sennacherib. Includes siege of Jerusalem, Isaiah 37: Hezekiah shut up “like a bird in a cage”.

Behistun Rock, Zagros Mts., Iran

1835, Henry Rawlinson.

521-485 B.C.; Persian, Elamite, and Akkadian.

Tri-lingual inscription of Darius of Persia. Opened door to translation of cuneiform (Akkadian) writing.

Sargon’s Palace, Khorsabad, near Nineveh, Iraq

1843–1844, Paul Emile Botta (Victor Place, 1851–1855).

722-705 B.C., Akkadian (Neo-Assyrian).

Included many bas-relie...