Irving Finkel

Irving Leonard Finkel, born in 1951, is a distinguished English philologist and Assyriologist renowned for his expertise in ancient Mesopotamian languages and cuneiform inscriptions. He serves as the Assistant Keeper in the Department of the Middle East at the British Museum, where he focuses on the museum's substantial collection of approximately 130,000 cuneiform tablets.

Raised in Palmers Green, North London, Finkel hails from a family of five, with a father who practiced dentistry and a mother who taught. Although he was brought up in an Orthodox Jewish household, he embraced atheism during his teenage years. Finkel pursued higher education at the University of Birmingham, where he earned a PhD in Assyriology, studying under Wilfred G. Lambert; his dissertation centered on Babylonian exorcistic spells targeting demons.

Finkel's academic journey included a three-year Research Fellowship at the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute. In 1976, he returned to the UK to take on the role of Assistant Keeper in the Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities at the British Museum, a position he has held since.

In 2014, Finkel garnered significant media attention for his research on a cuneiform tablet containing a flood narrative reminiscent of the biblical story of Noah's Ark. His findings, detailed in his book *The Ark Before Noah*, led to the reconstruction of a circular ark, which was featured in the PBS NOVA documentary *Secrets of Noah's Ark*. Despite challenges with sealing, the project showcased Finkel's innovative approach to ancient texts and their implications for historical narratives.