Biblical Archaeology Society of Northern Virginia

BASONOVA is a non-sectarian society open to anyone who has an interest in biblical-era archaeology or the history, art, religion, and texts of ancient times. Our members are drawn from all walks of life and live predominantly in Northern Virginia, Montgomery County and the District of Columbia. We call ourselves a society because there is an important social aspect to our organization, which recently began its third decade.

We meet eight times a year, usually on Sunday afternoons at a restaurant in the Metropolitan DC area, to sample ethnic food, enjoy engaging table talk, and listen to well-informed scholars and field archaeologists. Many of these lecturers have international reputations and educate us for an hour with richly illustrated images of their work. BASONOVA began in 1994 as an unofficial offshoot of Hershel Shanks’ Biblical Archaeology Society and has grown to become a popular destination to meet a wide range of warm and thoughtful people interested in the biblical history and archaeology of ancient times.