A new study reveals that the earliest bathhouses in Pompeii were not very hygienic.
“A gang of four antiquities robbers was caught red-handed on Sunday afternoon while digging inside an ancient Roman-period burial cave near Hittin, on the edge of the Arbel Valley.”
The latest video from Expedition Bible traces the route of Abraham from Iraq through Syria, Turkey, Jordan, and Israel.
Elizabeth Shenk reports on the use of AI in dating the Dead Sea Scrolls, and she includes a number of quotations from scholars about the dating of Daniel.
Marek Dospěl provides an introduction to the Nimrud Letters.
Marta Lorenzon writes about the social meaning and functionality of mudbrick architecture. “By tracing the full chaîne opératoire — from soil selection to mixing, molding, drying, and construction — we can approach mudbrick not only as a building technology but also as a reflection of cultural practice, community identity, and human engagement with the environment.”
The NY Times posted an obituary for Gabriel Barkay (gift link).
The first guest on The Book and the Spade radio program was Gabriel Barkay, and that recording from 1984 is now online.
Israel’s Good Name writes about his travels on the outskirts of Elkana.
Chris McKinny and Amy Balogh discuss the Flood Tablet from the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Hybrid lecture at the Albright on Feb 4: “Unearthing an Imperially Glorious Byzantine Church near Bet Shemesh: From Fieldwork to Virtual Reality,” by Benyamin Storchan
Hybrid lecture at the Albright on Feb 25: “Willibald Goes to Jerusalem: A Trip Through the City Then and Now,” by Christie Pavey
Releasing soon: Archaeology and the People of the Bible: Exploring the Evidence for the Historical Existence of Bible Characters, by Titus Kennedy
The Sacred Thread and the BibleProject have released the 8-day Lord’s Prayer Reading Plan on YouVersion.
Friends of ASOR Tours are giving two days of insider tours in Philadelphia in April.
“Bible Mapper is pleased to announce the launch of Bible Mapper, Jr.! The new site hosts a growing collection of resources specifically designed to help kids understand where the stories of the Bible happened and why it matters. Each map lesson includes a kid-friendly map, a Bible reading, a Life Lesson, and an article that unpacks what happened in the story and how it can help us follow God more closely.”
HT: Agade, Arne Halbakken, Ted Weis, Explorator