Weekend Roundup

Haaretz profiles the late archaeologist Nahman Avigad on the anniversary of his birthday. Leen Ritmeyer shares some personal reflections.

Mark Hoffman shares a Google Maps Exercise for Biblical Geography.

Many ancient leopard traps have been discovered in Israel’s Negev.

What if Cyrus had not freed the Jews? The Jewish Journal asks the question.

Adam Zertal’s theory about Gilgal is detailed in Israel HaYom.

Lior, the lion king of Jerusalem, has died at the age of 16.

HT: Charles Savelle, Jack Sasson

Leave a comment

DigSight Summer 2013

The latest issue of the SAU Institute of Archaeology DigSight is now available online in pdf format.

Contents include:

  • Excavating Lachish 2013
  • Qeiyafa Final Celebration
  • New Museum Coordinator
  • Battle Over David in South Africa
  • Institute of Archaeology at ASI
  • Director’s Letter
  • Recent Sightings
  • Upcoming Events

The first article reports on the initial season of excavations at Lachish. The team hopes to find answers for the following questions:

  • When was Lachish inhabited for the first time in the Iron Age?
  • When was Lachish first fortified in the Iron Age?
  • How did the economy, administration, international connections, writing, cult, and art develop in the first 200 years of the Kingdom of Judah?
  • Was there a fortified city in Lachish relating to 2 Chronicles 11:5–12, which recounts Rehoboam’s rebuilding of the city?

The archaeologists are focusing their work on the northeast quarter of the site and they have already exposed part of the fortification system near the well.

Information about upcoming lectures is provided on the last page of the newsletter, including these events:

October 22, 2013, 7 p.m.


“Excavating Nebuchadnezzar’s Destruction at Lachish”  Michael G. Hasel, PhD (Southern Adventist University)

February 11, 2014, 7 p.m.


“Tell Jalul: A Levitical City of Refuge in Jordan?”  Randall W. Younker, PhD (Andrews University)

March 11, 2014, 7 p.m.


“Ossuaries and the Burials of Jesus and James”  Jodi Magness, PhD (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)

Lachish aerial from south, tb010703291
Lachish from the south
Leave a comment

Archaeology Discovery Weekend at La Sierra University

The Center for Near Eastern Archaeology at La Sierra University is hosting its 5th Annual Archaeology Discovery Weekend on November 16–17, 2013 with this year’s focus on Jerusalem.

Most of the lectures and events appear to be free though there is a charge for some workshops and the Grand Opening Gala and Middle Eastern Banquet on Saturday evening.

Lectures include:


Jerusalem through the Ages: Prehistory to Modern, by Dan Bahat. Respondents: Jane Cahill West, Mahmoud Hawari, and Larry Herr


Jerusalem in the Iron Age, time of Old Testament Kings, by Jane Cahill West


Jerusalem in the Roman Period, time of the New Testament, by Dan Bahat


Jerusalem and the Knights Templar, by Kent Bramlett


The “Golden Age” of Islamic Culture, Art and Architecture in Jerusalem: The Ayyubid and 
Mamluk Periods (AD 1187–1516), by Mahmoud Hawari


Jerusalem Inscriptions, by Larry Herr

The closing lecture is a series of short presentations on The Archaeology of Jerusalem in the Context of the Modern Middle East: Risk, Responsibilities, Opportunities. Presenters include Dan Bahat, Kent Bramlett, Mahmoud Hawari, Lawrence Geraty, Larry Herr, Robert Mullins, and Jane Cahill West.

For more information, follow the links from La Sierra University’s website. La Sierra University is located in Riverside, California.

HT: James Lancaster

Temple Mount and Western Wall aerial from southwest, tb010703235
The Temple Mount and Western Wall from the southwest
Photo from the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands
Leave a comment

Weekend Roundup

Yosef Garfinkel is interviewed about Khirbet Qeiyafa at The Bible and Interpretation. He explains why he believes that King David “certainly slept there a few nights every year.”

Bryant Wood has a round-up of significant archaeological discoveries made in 2013.

Ferrell Jenkins shares an illustration of bargaining in the Middle Eastern.

Clyde Billington and Gordon Govier discuss the discovery of gold near the Temple Mount on this week’s edition of The Book and the Spade (direct link here).

There’s a new website for the Montfort Castle project.

This video on the Bread Culture of Jordan addresses both ancient and modern aspects of this way of life.

Gordon Franz passes on word that Gabriel Barkay recently presented a paper in Jerusalem suggesting that Absalom’s Pillar in the Kidron Valley belonged to Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:20-23). If I hear
more, I’ll note it in a future blog post.

HT: Jack Sasson, Aren Maeir

Pillar of Absalom with snow, tb022603216
The “Pillar of Absalom” in the Kidron Valley, Jerusalem
Photo from the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands
Leave a comment

Website for Gabriel Barkay

Archaeologist Gabriel Barkay has a new official website that provides a brief bio, links to some of his publications, and his current speaking schedule. You can also request Dr. Barkay to speak at your institution.

Barkay is on a lecture tour in the U.S. now and he’s covering a lot of ground, including stops in PA, NC, TN, MO, KS, TX, MS, AR, IL, IA, WI, NY, NH, NJ, and NE. You can check to see if he’ll be in your area.

I consider Barkay to be one of the two best teachers I ever had, in any subject. His extensive knowledge and his clear style have long been a model for me. I recommend you try to attend one of his lectures, if at all possible.

Gabriel Barkay explaining Temple Mount discoveries, tb110906712
Dr. Gabriel Barkay lecturing at the Temple Mount Sifting Project
Leave a comment

Wednesday Roundup

Excavations on Mount Zion this summer revealed a Early Roman period mansion that archaeologists suggest belonged to the family of a priest in the first century. The story is also reported by livescience.

A summary of this year’s excavations of Tel Yafo (Jaffa) is now online. The work focused on the only Egyptian gate known in Israel.

There’s another article on the alleged discovery of Dalmanutha.

Why was Samaria made the capital of the Kingdom of Israel? Norma Franklin argues from her archaeological research that it was the city’s economic potential.

The University of Pennsylvania is celebrating a century since it received the Sphinx.

Logos Bible Software is looking for a Bible Map Designer.

“Explorations in Antiquity in LaGrange will soon open its Biblical Life Artifacts Gallery.”

Philologos explains why Sukkot is a harvest holiday, even though there’s little to harvest. For those beginning the joyous celebration of Sukkot tonight, we say hag sameah!

HT: Mark Hoffman, Jack Sasson, Joseph Lauer

Sphinx, red granite, 19th Dynasty, from Memphis, tb072311783
The Sphinx of the University of Pennsylvania
Leave a comment
About the BiblePlaces Blog

The BiblePlaces Blog provides updates and analysis of the latest in biblical archaeology, history, and geography. Unless otherwise noted, the posts are written by Todd Bolen, PhD, Professor of Biblical Studies at The Master’s University.

Links
Notice

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. In any case, we will provide honest advice.