A guy discovers a ship 10,000 feet underwater that was sunk 60 years ago – without ever leaving his computer! Wetherby News has the fascinating story and some potential benefits to archaeologists. A previous article was in the Times Online.
The Israel Antiquities Authority has posted a 7-minute movie about the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Worldmapper.org has quite a selection of interesting (modern) maps.
HT: Joe Lauer
Lela Gilbert has an article in the Jerusalem Post on the recent trend of denying that a Jewish temple existed in Jerusalem. It includes a lengthy interview with archaeologist Gabriel Barkay, and concludes:
IN SPITE of these discoveries, Temple denial remains a growing phenomenon in Europe and America, particularly in leftist intellectual circles. It is supported by the reality that there are no visible remains of the temples of Jerusalem on the Temple Mount. Barkay contends that there were remains still visible in the 1960s and 1970s, which have either been removed or covered up by gardens.
“The Islamic Wakf says, ‘We are not going to let you dig, but show us any remains of the Temple.’ You cannot have it both ways. If you don’t allow people to dig, then don’t use this absence of remains as an argument.
“Temple denial is a very tragic harnessing of politics to change history. It is not a different interpretation of historical events or archeological evidence. This is something major. I think that Temple denial is more serious and more dangerous than Holocaust denial. Why? Because for the Holocaust there are still living witnesses. There are photographs; there are archives; there are the soldiers who released the prisoners; there are testimonies from the Nazis themselves. There were trials, a whole series of them, starting with Nuremberg. There are people who survived the Holocaust still among us. Concerning the Temple, there are no people among us who remember.
“Still, [to deny the Temples], you have to dismiss the evidence of Flavius Josephus; you have to dismiss the evidence of the Mishna and of the Talmud; and you have to dismiss the writings of Roman and Greek historians who mention the Temple of Jerusalem. And you have to dismiss The Bible. That is, I think, way too much.”
Previous related post: Muslims Recognize Temple’s Existence
HT: Joe Lauer
From Arutz-7:
Archaeologists have discovered three 9,000-year-old skulls at the Yiftah’el dig in the Lower Galilee, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday. Experts said the placement of the skulls confirms the worship of ancestors from during that time, practiced by displaying skulls inside houses. The skulls were apparently placed on benches in a house where they would inspire the younger generation to continue in the ways of their forefathers. A similar custom was also identified in Syria, Turkey and Jordan. The skulls are 8,000-9,000 years old and were buried in a pit adjacent to an excavated large public building. They were discovered during excavations for a new highway interchange at the Movil Junction, a major intersection. “The skulls were found plastered – that is to say sculpted – which is a phenomenon that is identified with the New Stone Age,” said site director Dr. Hamoudi Khalaily. “The practice included the reconstruction of all of the facial features of the deceased by means of sculpting the skull with a variety of materials such as plaster that was specifically intended for this. On the skulls that were found in the excavation the nose was entirely reconstructed.”
The story continues here.
From earlier previews of the maps, illustrations, and study notes, I think that the ESV Study Bible will be a very useful resource for those interested in biblical geography and archaeology. The Bible includes more than 200 full-color maps, and 40 stunning, up-to-date illustrations. (For one example of “up-to-date,” look at the Pool of Siloam on the Jerusalem illustrations.)
The Bible is due out on October 15, but the publisher wants everyone to know just how good this Bible will be before then. To that end, they have just begun a blog. I’d draw your attention to the post on the Gamla synagogue, with its outstanding reconstruction drawing (which you can download in high resolution). Leen Ritmeyer gives his perspective on the illustration he helped to create here.
If you want to know more about the Bible, there’s a 5-minute video overview that shows off some of the beautiful illustrations.
One thing that I don’t think I’ll ever understand is how books like this can be so affordable ($31.50 online).
A Roman temple from the 2nd century A.D. has been excavated at Sepphoris. The temple was about 40 by 80 feet (12 x 24 m) and its facade faced the decumanus, the main east-west street of the city. A church was later built over the temple. The story is reported by ScienceDaily, Physorg, and the Jerusalem Post. The first two links each have a photo.
Zondervan Academic has a new blog and they have, among other things, links to the online programs for the national meetings of AAR, ETS, and SBL. I also liked John Walton’s post on bad things people do in teaching children the Bible.
The JPost has a short article about “Genesis Land,” a tourist site that recreates patriarchal life midway between Jerusalem and Jericho.
Some people know General Charles Gordon because of his work in China and Sudan, and others for his popularization of “Gordon’s Calvary” or the Garden Tomb. NPR has a five-part series on China and Sudan, in which Gordon’s influence is discussed in part one.
From the Daily Democrat:
Soon, Yolo County residents won’t have to travel to Israel for a tour of the Holy Land. Locals will be able to stop by the Woodland Museum of Biblical Archaeology at Woodland United Fellowship, 240 N. West St., to visit a collection of artifacts from Biblical times.
The museum’s humble beginnings began in the foyer of Woodland United Fellowship a year ago.
Pastor Carl Morgan began a display case with a few juglets and lamps from archaeological digs he participated in, and the collection continued to grow.
“We live in a time when the Bible has come under a lot of criticism and attack as not being reliable or authoritative,” Morgan said. “Archaeology allows us to see the geography and historicity of the Bible is correct. Many times, we’ve been able to find a name or a city (on a dig) associated with a Biblical event, and we’re able to say to the critics, ‘They’re not myths. The Bible is accurate.’ It also helps build your faith.”
On the west wall of the museum artifacts from mainly the Middle Bronze Age (2200 BC to 1550 BC) will be displayed. Visitors will find sling stones, which were used as weapons and swung with a leather strap. They will also see swords from 2000 BC and a sacrificial knife from the time of Abraham.
There is pottery dated beyond 3000 BC and a battle-axe on display that dates at least 500 years before the time of Abraham.
“That’s the oldest piece of metal you’ll ever hold,” Morgan said.
The story continues here. If they’ll let you hold it, they’ll probably let you take a picture of it as well.
Which is something you won’t get at many other museums. Woodland is 20 miles northwest of Sacramento.
HT: Joe Lauer