P.M. Michèle Daviau; inset, Robert Chadwick

The mound of Khirbat al-Mudayna overlooks the Wadi ath-Thamad in central Jordan—an area that was part of Biblical Moab. Here, excavators have uncovered the remains of a walled Iron Age city that is shedding new light on Israel’s mysterious eastern neighbors.The most exciting find lies just inside the two-story gate uncovered to the south, where excavators have found a temple—the first Moabite sanctuary ever discovered—complete with altars and several cult objects, including striking female figurines like that shown in the inset.