Originally published July 11, 2023 2:00 pm PDT
Noted archaeologist and Dean of Trinity Southwest University, Steven Collins, has recently claimed a potential identification of the ancient Biblical city of Sodom.
In an interview with Joel C. Rosenberg on the Rosenberg Report, Collins shared the compelling evidence found at the Tell el-Hammam site in Jordan, which seemingly correlates with the biblical tale of Sodom.
Unearthing several Bronze-age remnants that appeared to have been subjected to intense heat, Collins said, “As soon as we get a few centimeters into that [Bronze Age] matrix, this piece of pottery, the shoulder of a storage jar, is facing up at us. And it looks like it’s glazed.”
Such artifacts brought to mind the aftermath of extreme heat events, closely echoing the biblical narration of Sodom’s fiery destruction.
A colleague of Collins even drew parallels with the scarring found at the Trinity nuclear test site in New Mexico, the site of the first atomic bomb explosion.
Prior theories suggested that a meteor impact some 4,000 years ago might have led to the obliteration of this site, although definitive proof remains elusive.
However, a recent study published in Nature does point to a “charcoal-rich destruction layer” and numerous heat-fused objects on-site.
Reflecting on the extent of destruction, Collins noted, “wiped out in the blink of an eye,” as per the study’s conclusion.
Going beyond archaeological findings, Collins also relied on biblical geography to assert his claim. He stated, “there are at least 25 known pieces of geography [in Scripture] that you can triangulate between to take you to the city of Sodom.”
He highlighted Genesis 13:10, according to which, Lot journeyed eastward from Bethel and Ai.
This aligns with the location of Tell el-Hammam, further strengthening Collins’ claim.
Despite the compelling findings, the identification of Sodom is yet to be officially recognized.
Nevertheless, this development opens an exciting chapter in the exploration of biblical archaeological sites, taking us one step closer to the legendary city of Sodom.
