Gabriel Barkay is a renowned Israeli archaeologist born in 1944 in Hungary. At the tender age of six, he made the bold decision to immigrate to Israel in 1950, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his life. His academic journey eventually led him to receive his PhD in Archaeology from Tel Aviv University in 1985, with his dissertation focusing on the fascinating topic of LMLK seal impressions on jar handles.
Throughout his illustrious career, Barkay has had the privilege of participating in the Lachish excavations alongside the esteemed archaeologist David Ussishkin. His areas of academic interest are diverse and multifaceted, encompassing the archaeology of Jerusalem, biblical archaeology, burials and burial customs, art, epigraphy, and glyptics in the Iron Age.
One of Barkay's most remarkable discoveries is a pair of small silver plaques containing the priestly benediction from the Book of Numbers, unearthed in 1979 at the ancient site of Ketef Hinnom. These extraordinary plaques hold the distinction of being the oldest surviving biblically-related inscription discovered to date, dating back to a remarkable 600 BC.
In addition to his Ketef Hinnom discovery, Barkay has also had the opportunity to excavate the Iron Age tombs on the grounds of the École Biblique in the early 1970s, further solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in the field of archaeology.
