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Ancient prisons are hard to find in the archaeological record, but archaeologists have identified one in Corinth’s Roman forum, dating to the 4th-5th centuries AD, based on graffiti found on floor tiles. Prior to that the area served as a market, and according to a local guide, there’s a tradition that Paul’s shop was here, based on fresco remains still barely visible. The underlying journal article is available to subscribers and for purchase ($20).

New archaeological research has found evidence that Pompeii was destroyed not only by the volcanic eruption but by a powerful earthquake.

Turkiye Today reports on irregularities in an excavation in Tarsus. The story alleges high security for a dig where nothing of significance was found. And yes, there is a dead policeman.

An article in Smithsonian Magazine explains who looted ancient Egyptian tombs and how they did it.

The latest issue of Biblical Archaeology Review includes four primary articles (subscription required):

  • “Jews of Arabia: Ancient Inscriptions Reveal Jewish Diaspora,” by Gary A. Rendsburg
  • “Gath of the Philistines: A New View of Ancient Israel’s Archenemy,” by Aren M. Maeir
  • “Letters to Pharaoh: The Canaanite Amarna Tablets,” by Alice Mandell
  • “Too Good to Be True? Reckoning with Sensational Inscriptions,” by Christopher Rollston

As Biblical Archaeology Review prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, it is asking its readers to share stories and memories.

ASOR has launched a new website for The Ancient Near East Today (ANE Today), their “open-access digital platform for public scholarship, disseminating the latest research, insights, and news about the ancient Near East and beyond.” You can read more about the changes and new features here.

With his archaeological biography on Ashurbanipal, Bryan Windle has written about all six Assyrian kings mentioned in the Bible.

HT: Agade, Mark V. Hoffman, Gordon Franz, Gordon Dickson, Arne Halbakken, Keith Keyser, Paleojudaica

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Archaeologists believe that a collection of silver objects discovered at Megiddo nearly a hundred years ago is linked to Thutmose III’s campaign.

A decade after a Roman sword was discovered in the City of David, its missing tip has been recovered during a soil-sifting operation.

“A part of the ancient water aqueduct arch in Caesarea collapsed on Tuesday after the Caesarea Development Corporation (CDC), refused to take steps to prevent it despite the historical remains being under its jurisdiction.” This follows another collapse that occurred a year ago.

Scott Stripling gives an update on this summer’s discoveries at Tel Shiloh on The Book and the Spade podcast.

Scientists have developed a methodology to identify the source of basalt using “chemical fingerprints.”

All Israel News has created an 8-minute video explaining the significance of the Temple Mount Sifting Project.

Susannah Schild describes how, twenty years after moving to Israel and being unimpressed with its trees, she has come to appreciate them for their suitability to their environment and their value to the traveler.

“Steve Bryan walks through the healing at Bethesda in John 5 to explore what we can know about the pool from archaeological remains, and how that helps us make sense of the text.”

Jodi Magness writes about Charlemagne’s interest in Jerusalem.

The latest issue of ‘Atiqot features more than a dozen articles related to “rural life in the southern Levant.”

The folks at The Book Podcast invited me on to talk about Israel, pictures, and more.

HT: Agade, Mark V. Hoffman, Gordon Franz, Gordon Dickson, Arne Halbakken, Keith Keyser, Paleojudaica

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“Archaeologists have found the skeleton remains of a man and a woman at the ancient site of Pompeii — the woman carrying a small cache of treasure — who died as they sought refuge during the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79.”

Cuneiform tablets discovered more than a century ago have been translated, describing how “some lunar eclipses are omens of death, destruction and pestilence.”

AI is proving quite useful in reconstructing the missing portions of the Epic of Gilgamesh and discovering new segments.

Nathan Steinmeyer reviews a recent proposal that questions whether a building in Dura-Europos is the world’s oldest house church.

To really understand the ancient city of Antioch on the Orontes, one must look not to archaeology by to early Christian writers.

NY Times: US federal investigators raided the home of the 84-year-old wife of a deceased archaeologist on suspicion that some antiquities in her collection were looted.

The Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society has a YouTube channel with a number of recent video lectures by top scholars, including:

Walking The Text explains the imagery of stadium and chariot races that were well-known to Paul and his readers.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Ted Weis, Arne Halbakken, Wayne Stiles, Alexander Schick

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Archaeologists working in the drainage channel under the Siloam Road have announced the discovery of a “complete tableware set of Jerusalem’s residents” and “a delicate glass vial, nearly perfectly preserved, several small oil lamps with soot still in them from use, various coins and beads, and a collection of ceramic vessels used to hold perfume and oil.”

A very rare bronze coin minted under Emperor Hadrian’s successor was discovered in the Temple Mount Sifting Project.

Chandler Collins’s latest Jerusalem in Brief “highlights the Hinnom Valley in the 19th century, an original guide to Avi-Yonah’s Jerusalem model, a correction to a previous post, and upcoming events on historical Jerusalem.”

The Jerusalem Post is reporting on Jodi Magness’s new book on Jerusalem.

There is no evidence that the Mazor Mausoleum was the tomb of John the Baptist.

Jacob Sivak argues on the basis of a coin hoard and other evidence that Jewish independence in the land of Israel did not end in AD 70,

A new archaeological journal entitled “CARMEL” has been launched by The School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures at the University of Haifa.

Joel Kramer’s latest video (with already 600k+ views!) is a witness stone mentioned in Joshua 24:26 and discovered at Shechem.

In a 30-minute video filmed on location at Gath, Nathan Steinmeyer talks with Aren Maeir about discuss the Philistines. This accompanies an article that Maeir wrote for the latest issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.

Leen Ritmeyer is impressed with a recently released 3D video on Herod’s Temple.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Ted Weis, Arne Halbakken, Wayne Stiles, Alexander Schick

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Bryan Windle highlights the top three reports in biblical archaeology in the month of July.

Experience Israel Now, led by Andy Cook, is preparing to launch a website and app to make using video imagery of biblical sites easy.

Nathan Steinmeyer reflects on the significance of the journeys of two ancient artifacts in modern times.

Lesley A. Gregoricka asks whether it is ethical to excavate the dead in the ancient Near East.

In the British Museum’s Curator’s Corner series, Irving Finkel discusses an artifact that may be the oldest map of the world (18 min). Tom Hale has written more about the map here.

Preserving Bible Times has posted a couple of teachings by the late Doug Greenwold: (1) Jesus heals the demoniac; (2) Jesus and the leper.

Zoom lecture on Aug. 14: Louise Hitchcock will be speaking on “Piracy and the Late Bronze Age Collapse” ($10)

The Bible & Archaeology Fest XXVII will be held in San Diego on Nov. 22-24 with 15 experts in biblical archaeology. A livestream option is available, and there is a discount for early registration.

The Biblical Language Center is offering a number of live video classes for beginning Biblical Hebrew and Koine Greek.

New release: The Oxford Handbook of First and Second Kings, edited by Steven L. McKenzie and Matthieu Richelle (Oxford University Press, $178; $132 on Kindle). Aren Maeir has posted photos of the table of contents.

New release: Greek and Roman Medicine at the British Museum: The Instruments and Accoutrements of Ancient Medicine, by Ralph Jackson (British Museum, free download).

New release: What’s in a Divine Name? Religious Systems and Human Agency in the Ancient Mediterranean, edited by Alaya Palamidis and Corinne Bonnet (De Gruyter, $165; free download)

Ferrell Jenkins has shared photos recently of Ramoth Gilead, choppy waters at the Sea of Galilee, and musht fish.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Arne Halbakken, Ted Weis, Steven Anderson, Gordon Dickson, Mark V. Hoffman

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A long, narrow public building excavated underwater at Salamis, Greece, may have been a portico.

“During a recent expedition at the site of the Antikythera shipwreck, marine archaeologists uncovered about 300 new objects, including 18 marble statue fragments,  a previously undiscovered part of the vessel’s hull and the remains of a wooden ship.”

“A stunning mosaic from the Late Classical period depicting dancing Satyrs was discovered on the floor of an ancient house in Eretria, Greece.”

Denise Demetriou writes about Phoenician trade associations in ancient Greece.

John DeLancey has begun a new series entitled “Journeys with Paul.” The most recent episode was filmed on site at Corinth.

“Archeologists have been left stunned after finding an ancient mummy that has been perfectly preserved for thousands of years in Italy.”

“Roadworks in Rome have uncovered the remains of a portico and garden from the time of the emperor Caligula, which archaeologists believe was the site of a key moment in Jewish history.”

Archaeologists have apparently uncovered a Roman defensive wall that was built to trap Spartacus.

The perfume of Julius Caesar has been re-created. Unlike others, this one did not include the sweat of gladiators. It will go on sale in October.

In a new Walking The Text video, Bray Gray explores role of the Roman theater and how it provided background for some of Paul’s writings (25 min).

New release: A Map of the Body, a Map of the Mind: Visualising Geographical Knowledge in the Roman World, by Iain Ferris (Archaeopress, £16–45)

Queen Berenice, mentioned in Paul’s trial in Caesarea, is the main character of a new TV show.

We have photo collections for Greece, the Greek Islands, Italy and Malta, and Rome. Also of relevance are the Photo Companion volumes on Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Philippians, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Arne Halbakken, Ted Weis, Steven Anderson, Gordon Dickson, Mark V. Hoffman

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