Todd Bolen, Author at BiblePlaces.com

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

Tagged Jerusalem, Lectures

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

Tagged Galilee, Jerusalem, Shephelah, Weekend Roundup

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.

Dr. Gabriel Barkay lecturing at the Temple Mount Sifting Project

Tagged Lectures

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

Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Excavations, Galilee, Holidays, Israel's Coast, Jerusalem, Museums, Opportunities, Samaria, Weekend Roundup

First Season of Excavations at Abel Beth Maacah

The excavators of Abel Beth Maacah provide a summary of their first season of digging at the ASOR Blog. After an introduction, they explain what they are looking for.

For one thing, there is Abel’s Aramean connection. References to a political entity called “Aram Maacah” (1 Chronicles 19:6) and to the “king of Maacah” (2 Samuel 10:6, 8) evoke possibilities of Aramean presence at the site, allowing us to examine such an entity in relation to other presumed Aramean sites like Bethsaida, Tel Hadar, and En Gev. Even though the Arameans are specifically mentioned in ancient records, we know very little about them “on the ground,” especially within the borders of modern Israel. Can they be defined in terms of a distinct material culture? The location of Abel Beth Maacah on the northern borders of Israel (then and now) makes this site a viable candidate for the study of Aramean cultural and political influences.
Passages in the Hebrew Bible suggest that Abel Beth Maacah became an Israelite town during David’s reign, and it apparently remained so until its destruction by the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III in 733 BCE. In the story of the Wise Woman of Abel Beth Maacah (2 Samuel 20:14-22), the city is enigmatically referred to as “a mother in Israel.” Her power and influence is apparent in that she directly negotiates the surrender of the Benjaminite rebel Sheba ben Bichri with Joab, David’s military commander.
The Abel Beth Maacah project is also intent on pursuing Phoenician connections in Iron Age II. The city’s location on a branch road of the International Highway leading north to Ijon (Tell ed-Dibbin) in Lebanon’s Marj Ayyun Valley, and roads leading west to Tyre and Sidon, will enable us to study cross-cultural ties with coastal Lebanon during the Bronze Age and Iron Age.

The report continues with some suggestions as to why the site has never been excavated before along with a description of this season’s prize find. I’m hoping they find another copy of the Tel Dan Inscription. Intact, of course.

We’ve written about Abel Beth Maacah previously here and here.

The Huleh valley with Abel Beth Maacah and Mount Hermon.
Photo by A.D. Riddle.

Tagged Excavations, Galilee

Wednesday Roundup

There are many Biblical archaeology programs scheduled for the Washington DC area.

Haaretz provides a review of the significance of Magdala and the recent excavations.

Paleojudaica links to the latest “bad-news articles on the Middle East for the last couple of weeks.”

St. Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai has closed due to the security situation in Egypt.

Shmuel Browns provides the latest Israel Roundup.

Aren Maeir announces that a new exhibit is opening at Bar-Ilan University entitled “The Rise and Fall of Philistine Gath (Tel Zafit).”

Some Palestinians are claiming that the golden treasure recently announced by Eilat Mazar is a fake.

Wayne Stiles provides a very good overview of the Garden of Gethsemane.

St. Catherine’s Monastery, circa 1915

Photo from the American Colony and Eric Matson Collection

Tagged Egypt, Galilee, Jerusalem, Lectures, Museums, New Exhibits, Philistines, Weekend Roundup