There were a number of interesting and significant stories this year that didn’t make it into the “top ten” list we posted yesterday.
Old Testament Period
Excavations in the City of David revealed evidence of Jerusalem’s fall in 586 BC.
The massive “Spring Tower” built over Jerusalem’s Gihon Spring may date to the 9th century BC, instead of to the Middle Bronze Age.
Ten jugs from the time of Eli and Samuel have been discovered in excavations at Shiloh.
Archaeologists working near biblical Aphek have discovered a large water reservoir dating to about the time of King Hezekiah.
The team working at Tel Burna has uncovered more evidence attesting to Canaanite ritual activity.
Scholars at Tel Aviv University have used multispectral imaging to reveal text on ancient “blank” potsherds from the First Temple period.
A study of LMLK seal impressions reveals that there was a massive spike in the earth’s magnetic field in the time of King Hezekiah.
Early excavation work at Kiriath Jearim revealed a 9-foot-wall.
Archaeologists excavated a dolmen on the Golan Heights with a 50-ton capstone and unique artistic decorations.
Archaeologists excavating in the Timna Valley near Eilat discovered fabric dyed red and blue.
New Testament/Second Temple Period
Archaeologists excavated an Edomite/Idumean temple in a live-fire zone near Lachish.
Archaeologists have reported the discovery of a large ritual bath(mikveh) at Macherus.
Archaeologists have discovered a cave on the cliffs above Qumran that held Dead Sea Scrolls until it was looted in the mid-1900s. Eleven caves have previously been identified containing ancient scrolls, but no new ones have been discovered since Cave 11 was found in 1956.
Fragments of a second “arch of Titus” were discovered in Rome.
Roman and Byzantine Periods
A mosaic from a Georgian church or monastery has been excavated in Ashdod-Yam, leading archaeologists to believe they may have finally discovered the Roman-Byzantine city of Ashdod-
Yam.
A large 4th-century AD winepress was excavated in the Ramat Negev region.
Archaeologists discovered a well-preserved Roman-period road in the Shephelah of Judah.
A 6th-century mosaic discovered near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem has a Greek inscription mentioning Emperor Justinian.
Other Stories
The Museum of the Bible opened in Washington DC.
Hershel Shanks retired from Biblical Archaeology Review, a magazine he founded in 1975.
Tomorrow
Various plans were announced this year. Check in tomorrow for our “hopes and dreams of 2017” edition.