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Bible Museum to display artifacts from Holy Land under deal

This handout photo provided by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) shows a Philistine Cult Stand from Yavneh Favissa, Iron Age II, Late 9th – 8th century BC. The Museum of the Bible, now under construction in Washington, will feature ancient artifacts and treasures from the Holy Land under a new deal with the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Israel Antiquities Authority/Leonid Padrul-Kwitkowski via AP This handout photo provided by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) shows a Philistine Cult Stand from Yavneh Favissa, Iron Age II, Late 9th – 8th century BC. The Museum of the Bible, now under construction in Washington, will feature ancient artifacts and treasures from the Holy Land under a new deal with the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Israel Antiquities Authority/Leonid Padrul-Kwitkowski via AP

By Associated Press August 18, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Museum of the Bible, now under construction in Washington, will feature ancient artifacts and treasures from the Holy Land under a new deal with the Israel Antiquities Authority.

An agreement announced Tuesday will bring a selection of artifacts excavated in Israel to be displayed in a top-floor gallery at the Bible museum. The new museum is set to open near the National Mall in 2017.

Officials say the specific artifacts to be displayed in Washington haven’t been settled. In 1993, the Israel Antiquities Authority exhibited the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Library of Congress in Washington.

The Museum of the Bible already holds a collection of rare biblical texts and artifacts. There are cuneiform tablets dating to the time of Abraham, Torah scrolls and rare printed Bibles.