The branch of historical archaeology devoted to the discovery and investigation of the places and artifacts recorded by the Bible and the study of Biblical times and documents. Biblical archaeology, culminating perhaps in the discovery of Masada, the Judaean hill fortress where the Jews made their last stand against the Romans in the revolt of AD 66-73 and that was mainly excavated in 1963, has given a new perspective to Old Testament and to studies of ancient Judaism. The value of archaeology and of topographical and linguistic studies for biblical history is well understood.