Weekend Roundup, Part 2

The tomb of Amenhotep III has been re-opened after a 20-year restoration.

“A limestone tablet dating back more than 4,000 years has disappeared from Egypt’s Saqqara necropolis.”

“Tutankhamun quiz: How much do you know about the famous boy king from ancient Egypt?”

Zoom lecture on Oct 22: “Mapping the Jews of Ancient Egypt: From the Hellenistic Period to the Arab Conquest,” by Meron M. Piotrkowski

The tomb of “one of the wealthiest and most influential women of the ancient Mediterranean” was discovered in southern Turkey.

Excavations are continuing at the ancient city of Lystra.

“Excavations in the city of Sagalassos in southwestern Turkey have uncovered ancient Egyptian imagery in a Roman-era bathhouse.”

“During recent excavations [in Turkey], archaeologists uncovered five carbonized bread loaves dating back to the 7th–8th centuries CE, including one with a depiction of Christ and a Greek inscription translating to, ‘With our thanks to Blessed Jesus.’”

“The Red Basilica (Kızıl Avlu), a monumental Roman temple in the ancient city of Pergamon, will reopen to visitors following extensive restoration, landscaping and conservation works.”

“Greece’s Museum Council has unanimously approved plans to expand and reimagine the National Archaeological Museum (NAM) in Athens, along with the neighboring Epigraphic Museum.”

James Davila posts photos from his visit to the excavations and museum of the Roman city of Cartagena in Spain. He has also posted some images related to the Phoenician and Punic eras as well as a couple of other posts.

Now open-access: The Royal Inscriptions of Nabopolassar (625-605 BC) and Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC), Kings of Babylon, Part 1, by Jamie Novotny and Frauke Weiershäuser (Eisenbrauns, 2024).

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Explorator, Ted Weis

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Weekend Roundup, Part 2

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Roman stadium in the area of Antalya (biblical Attalia), Turkey.

“The Mycenaean Wall on the eastern plateau of the Acropolis of Athens, near the site of the Old Museum, is undergoing significant restoration.”

Bryan Windle summarizes the top three archaeological news stories for the month of September.

Turkish Archaeological News rounds up the highlights for the month of September.

Webinar on Oct 8: “Readers of the Lost Ark: The Ark of the Covenant from Biblical Religion to Contemporary Culture,” presented by Kevin McGeough with panelists Jennie Ebeling and Bill Caraher. McGeough writes about the same subject for The Ancient Near East Today.

Hybrid lecture on Oct 15 at Harvard: “Mavericks: Three Visionary Pharaohs of Egypt,” by Lawrence M. Berman. Advance registration recommended for online and in-person.

“Founded in 2025, AI & Antiquity: Journal of Teaching and Technology in Ancient Studies (ISSN 3081-4553) was established on the conviction that Ancient Studies—encompassing history, archaeology, philology, and art history—urgently require a dedicated forum for critical reflection on pedagogy, teaching practices, and the transformative role of digital technologies in education.” The full issue is available for free download.

James Davila attended the Festival of the Carthaginians and Romans last week, and he has posted some photos and a short note, with more details to come.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Explorator

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Weekend Roundup, Part 2

“Iraq has uncovered the largest winged bull in Assyrian history, measuring about 6 meters tall” in the royal hall of Ashurbanipal’s palace.

After fear that the world’s oldest synagogue paintings may have been destroyed in Syria’s civil war, scholar Jill Joshowitz was thrilled to see the 3rd-century Dura-Europos paintings well-preserved in the National Museum of Damascus.

Archaeologists have discovered a “waiting bench” outside the entrance to the Villa of the Mysteries at Pompeii.

“Egyptians reacted with outrage this week after officials said that a 3,000-year-old bracelet that had belonged to an ancient pharaoh [Amenemope] was stolen from Cairo’s famed Egyptian Museum and then melted down for gold.”

“The ancient theater in Myra, one of the six most important cities of the Lycian League, is set to regain its original appearance through the reconstruction of its stage building with original stones.”

The ancient Egyptians did not use booby traps in the Giza pyramids.

Jason Borges has published an article on “The City of Philomelium and the Occasion of the Martyrdom of Polycarp.”

Registration is now open for the “Year in Review in 2025 in Biblical Archaeology” with Glenn Corbett and Chris McKinny, on December 2 ($10).

The Tel Dan Inscription is on display at the Museum of the Bible until November 3. No entrance fee is required to see this exhibit or the Megiddo Mosaic. In November, a Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit will open (for a double charge).

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Joseph Lauer, Explorator

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Weekend Roundup, Part 2

Archaeologists discovered a complete hieroglyphic version of the Canopus Decree of Ptolemy III.

“For the first time, researchers have uncovered direct genomic evidence of the bacterium behind the Plague of Justinian—the world’s first recorded pandemic—in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

“Izmir’s long-running Old Smyrna (Bayrakli Hoyuk or Mound) dig was sealed by presidential decision, archaeologists were blocked from the site, and excavation inventories were seized; no reason has been shared and the future of research remains unclear.”

The Sagalassos Archaeological Research Project is celebrating its 20th year. The site is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities, with reconstruction underway for the agora gymnasium, southeast avenue, and the street fountain.

Tourism to ancient Babylon is increasing, and restoration work on a temple and walls is nearing completion.

Titus Kennedy is on The Book and the Spade to discuss new research on Sodom and Gomorrah and excavations of the city of Zoar.

The replication specialist at The British Museum explains what he learned in the recreation of a gladiator helmet (18 min).

Clinton Moyer provides a summary of Erin Darby’s article on how biblical archaeology has changed in the last 50 years.

All Loeb volumes in the public domain are easily downloadable here.

“Patrick McGovern, an archaeologist who analyzed ancient cauldrons, shards of pottery and broken bottles to discover and then recreate the alcoholic beverages that intoxicated prehistoric civilizations, including booze found in the tomb of King Midas, died on Aug. 24.”

An Israeli journalist describes his visit to Jewish sites in Syria, as well as the National Museum of Damascus. How long until we can do archaeology tours?

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Explorator

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

The Pilgrims’ Road, leading from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount, was inaugurated this week, and visitors can now walk the full length.

A hoard of bronze coins found at Tel Huqoq in Galilee provides insight into the little-known Third Jewish Revolt against the Romans in AD 351.

“Over the course of millennia, inhabitants of the Levant used irrigation to mitigate the effects of climate change and maximize the production of olives and grapes, demonstrating resilience and ingenuity.” The underlying journal article is here.

Scholars at Tel Aviv University’s School of Computer Science have developed a new tool to analyze the writing on the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Achia Kohn-Tavor is on The Book and the Spade to talk about the excavations at el-Araj/Bethsaida, including the recent fire.

Turkiye Today has a history of Israel’s requests that Turkey send the Siloam Inscription back to Jerusalem.

The latest issue of Near Eastern Archaeology is dedicated to Megiddo in the Iron Age. A subscription is required for access.

“After 800 years of silence, a pipe organ that researchers say is the oldest in the Christian world roared back to life Tuesday, its ancient sound echoing through a monastery in Jerusalem’s Old City.”

BibleStock has released a new teaching video for the Parable of the Sower which “includes links to some amazing drone footage of the fields around the northern shoreline of the Sea of Galilee.”

David M. Jacobson has posted some recent articles on Academia:

The Feast of Trumpets (aka Rosh Hashanah) begins Monday evening.

Tom and Joann Doyle hosted me on their Uncharted Ministries podcast (Spotify, Apple), and we had a fun time reminiscing about Israel, photography, teaching experiences, excavations, Isaiah, my family, my “legacy,” and more. This is the most personal interview I’ve ever done, and the experts at Uncharted loaded up the YouTube version with lots of photos.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Explorator

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Archaeologists excavating 15 miles east of Tel Aviv uncovered “the largest [ancient] Samaritan site outside of the Samaritan homeland,” including colorful mosaics, two ritual baths, and lots of coins and oil lamps.

“Israeli archaeologists discovered rare preserved lamp wicks believed to be some 4,000 years old during excavations for a new neighborhood in Yehud, in central Israel.”

A ceramic bearing reed impressions is the “find of the month” for the Temple Mount Sifting Project.

The Times of Israel has more about the effects of the wildfire that burned the excavation site at el-Araj, likely the New Testament site of Bethsaida.

John DeLancey writes and shares photos from his time volunteering at the Tel Eter excavation.

“Megiddo: A City Unearthed, A Past Imagined marks 100 years since ISAC’s first major archaeological expedition (1925–1939), which revealed layers of palatial complexes, fortifications, and elite material culture.”

Correction: Eric Cline’s upcoming lecture will be on Sept 9, not Sept 8.

Zoom lecture on Sept 18: “Excavations of Crusader Akko,” by Danny Syon, sponsored by the Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society.

The latest issue of Tel Aviv has been released, and it includes open-access articles about Tel Azekah, Manasseh’s wall in Jerusalem, and Late Roman mansion in the Givati Parking Lot excavations in Jerusalem.

“The top three reports in biblical archaeology from August 2025 included reports of gold, silver, and a monumental structure in Jerusalem.”

HT: Agade, Arne Halbakken, Gordon Franz

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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.

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