Archaeologists in Iraq have been documenting ISIS's destruction of the purported tomb of Jonah, which they blew up soon after their seizure of the area in 2014. They discovered that ISIS had dug tunnels under the shrine and into the previously unknown palace of Sennacherib and Esarhaddon. While investigating the tunnels, archaeologists found a cuneiform inscription of King Esarhaddon, dating to 672 BC. In another tunnel, an Assyrian stone sculpture of a demi-goddess was discovered. This is the first evidence of ISIS tunneling in ancient mounds in search of artifacts to plunder and sell on the antiquities market. Archaeologists are working against time to document as many of the finds as possible, since the tunnels look ready to collapse soon. 2 Kings 18 and 19 describe Sennacherib's unsuccessful attack on Jerusalem, his murder, and how Esarhaddon eventually came to the throne.
Off-site Links:
- http://www.timesofisrael.com/islamic-state-looting-uncovers-ancient-palace-beneath-jonahs-tomb/
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/27/previously-untouched-600bc-palace-discovered-shrine-demolished/
- http://www.foxnews.com/science/2017/03/06/biblical-kings-palace-uncovered-beneath-shrine-destroyed-by-isis.html
