Weekend Roundup, Part 1

“An impressive section of Jerusalem’s fortification wall from the second century BCE has been uncovered on the grounds of the Tower of David complex in the Old City.” About 130 feet of the “First Wall” has been uncovered in the Kishle.

Archaeologists have found evidence for the famous battle at Bet Zecharia described in 1 Maccabees. “It is the first time we have possible archaeological evidence from one of Judah Maccabee’s battlefields.”

A scholar believes that he has cracked Cryptic B, a rare alphabet known only from two uses in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Coins previously believed to sloppy versions of coins minted by Alexander Jannaeus should instead be understood as coming from the economically weak era of the Hasmonean civil war between 60 and 40 BC.

Hartebeests went extinct in Israel not in the Iron Age but in the Byzantine period.

Doron Spielman spoke about some of his experiences in the City of David at a recent event in Jerusalem.

On Digging for Truth, Scott Stripling explains the archaeology that is related to Hanukkah.

On the Biblical World podcast, Kyle Keimer talks with David deSilva about his two new archaeology books.

Dig has released a 27-minute video about Labayu of Shechem.

The foundation stone of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem was laid 100 years ago.

A powerful winter storm caused death and destruction all over Israel this week.

New release: The Archaeology of the Kingdom of Judah, by Yosef Garfinkel (SBL Press, $75)

You can now purchase soil from the Temple Mount.

Jerusalem University College will be presenting its 6th annual online seminar on January 10. The “Geography and the Bible” seminar is free and will include four sessions:

  • “Road Systems from Egypt through Sinai,” by James Hoffmeier
  • “Trekking from the Desert to the Land of Milk and Honey,” by Hélène Dallaire
  • “What Does it Mean that Jerusalem was ‘Built as a City which is Compact Together?’ A Geographical and Archaeological Reading of Psalm 122:3,” by Chandler Collins
  • “The Early Church’s Encounter with the Roman Imperial Cult,” by Carl Rasmussen

There is no hat tip (HT) below to Gordon Franz, because Gordon died on November 22. I met Gordon when studying at IHLS in the early 90s, and we stayed in touch over the years, including a tour he gave my family of NYC. Gordon taught for various schools over the years, including the Israel and Turkey/Greece/Rome programs for the Talbot School of Theology.  Most recently Gordon sent me stories for these roundups, and in the last email he wrote me, he said he was on his way to buy Rabbi Landy’s latest book. He was quite the book connoisseur. And he had much yet he planned to accomplish. Some of Gordon’s writings are still available on his website. A recording of his celebration of life service is online. He will be missed.

Gordon Franz taking photos from the rooftop of the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem, 1993

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Keith Keyser, Arne Halbakken, Alexander Schick, Explorator

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Archaeologists have found remains of a royal palace on the northwestern slope of Alexandrium (Sartaba).

“Israel’s Civil Administration says it seized dozens of archaeological artifacts from a site north of Ramallah in Area B today and transferred them to the Museum of the Good Samaritan archaeological site in Area C.”

The top three reports in biblical archaeology last month were “about an Early Bronze Age winepress, a Late Bronze Age site, and Iron Age trade.”

Bryan Windle is on Digging for Truth to discuss the identity of the Magi.

Josephus Christianus is a new research project devoted “to studying the reception of Flavius Josephus’ works within the Greek Christian tradition from the second to fifteenth centuries CE.”

Online course from the Biblical Archaeology Society: “The Arameans and the Bible,” taught by K. Lawson Younger Jr., Feb 3 to March 12 ($319)

Westminster Books is the first I’ve seen to have available the Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Historical Books, Volume 1: Joshua-Ruth, edited by Barry J. Beitzel ($34). They also have the set of the four available volumes on sale ($130). Amazon will have the book next week ($38).

HT: Agade, Alexander Schick, Ted Weis

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Weekend Roundup, Part 2

A discovery at Tanis indicates that Shoshenq III was buried not in his own tomb but in an unmarked sarcophagus in Osorkon II’s tomb.

“Researchers in Istanbul have confirmed the existence of an underwater copper mine near Heybeliada (Greek: Χάλκη, Latinized: Halki) island, providing rare archaeological evidence for a description recorded by Aristotle more than 2,300 years ago.”

Excavations in Tunisia have uncovered the second largest Roman olive oil mill in the Roman empire.

A monumental staircase leading to nowhere may give evidence that a large villa in Pompeii had a viewing tower.

Alex Joffe writes about the use of animal dung as fuel in ancient Mesopotamia.

Zoom lecture on Dec 9: “From Pasargadae to Neyrīz, ca. 500 BCE: The View from the Persepolis Fortification Archive,” by Rhyne King

Students who climbed onto the roof of a temple of Apollo in Cyprus have been criticized.

Mick Boersma, a longtime professor at Talbot School of Theology and faithful friend to me and this ministry, is with the Savior he loved so much and served so well.

HT: Agade, Explorator, Paleojudaica

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

“A new geological and archaeological study has mapped dozens of ancient stone quarries hidden beneath today’s Jerusalem.” You can find the underlying article and map here.

Aren Maeir notes that more announcements are forthcoming related to the Pool of Siloam excavations.

An elaborate Byzantine mosaic discovered west of Beersheba has been conserved and relocated and is now on public display.

In part 3 of his series on the latest research on Jericho, Bryan Windle shows that the pottery discovered at the site indicates that Jericho was inhabited at the time of Joshua’s conquest.

“The ancient Jewish prutah of Hasmonean Judaea and the modern American penny share far more than their diminutive size and copper heritage; they reflect timeless tensions between intrinsic value, symbolic meaning, and practical utility.”

Hybrid lecture at the Museum of the Bible on Dec 7: “Explore the Sacred Symbolism of the Magdala Stone,” by Marcela Zapata-Meza ($15-40)

Hybrid lecture at the Albright on Dec 15: “Our Life in Light: Ancient Lamps, Faith, and Festivals of Illumination,” by Benyamin Storchan

Zoom lecture on Dec 10: “Building God’s House: Synagogues, Churches, and Intercommunal Relations in Late Antique Palestine,” by Zeev Weiss

“A new initiative using the National Library of Israel’s digital Hebrew manuscript database will enable automatic transcription of the entire Cairo Genizah, making the world’s largest trove of medieval Jewish texts searchable and accessible worldwide.”

“The Lord’s Prayer” feature film released this week. This new website has links to the trailer, the movie, the book, and how you can get involved. (I watched it last night, and it is one jaw-dropping scene after another.)

William Varner, a long-time colleague, and David Hegg, the senior pastor at the church where both Will and I serve, have just released Matthew’s Messiah: His Jewish Life and Ministry, an exposition of the Gospel with special focus on the Jewish backgrounds. This study has been a passion of Dr. Varner’s for many years, and the full-color volume is illustrated with many of my photographs. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m told the book is beautiful. Here is a link to the book on Amazon, but the publisher has a lower price right now.

HT: Agade, Joseph Lauer, Andy Cook, Explorator

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Israel has begun pumping desalinated water into the Sea of Galilee, making it the first such effort anywhere in the world. They expect the effort to raise the lake’s level by 0.2 inches per month. The lake is currently only 1 foot above the lower red line.

“A 4,300-year-old silver goblet featuring the earliest depiction of the Creation narrative from the Near East tradition echoes the struggle between chaos and order from the book of Genesis, a new study published on Thursday suggests.” The authors of the underlying journal article have written a short piece for ANE Today.

“Ivory from sub-Saharan Africa was imported to the Land of Israel between 1600- 600 BCE, overcoming geopolitical changes in both arenas, a new study analyzing over 1,500 artifacts and fragments excavated at 46 sites in the region has shown.”

A recent study analyzed hundreds of Chalcolithic cornets from Teleilat Ghassul and concluded that they were lamps used for ceremonial fire processions.

Lawrence Schiffman has written a short article for Ami Magazine explaining the significance of recent research on Masada, including the overturning of some common views.

Winners have been announced for the BAS 2025 Publication Awards.

I’ve learned that the exhibition of the Great Isaiah Scroll has been postponed due to issues of climate control and will now open in February 2026. Perhaps they will extend the exhibit into the summer to compensate.

A bill introduced in the Israeli parliament would transfer control of the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron to Israeli authorities.

Jerusalem University College has announced its lineup of spring online courses, including:

  • Biblical Archaeology II, taught by Kyle Keimer
  • The Book of Revelation and the Seven Cities of the Apocalypse, taught by Chris Vlachos
  • Cultural Backgrounds of the Bible, taught by Oliver Hersey
  • The Parables of Jesus and the Rabbinic Meshalim, taught by Steven Notley

Israel’s Good Name reports on a summer excursion to the Sharon Beach Nature Reserve.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Ted Weis, Charles Savelle, Paleojudaica

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

“A 5,000-year-old wine press has been unearthed next to the iconic archaeological site of Tel Megiddo, providing the earliest evidence of wine production in the Land of Israel.” There are more photos here.

After years of survey work, a couple of Israeli archaeologists identified the probable location of the ancient synagogue in the Syrian village of Yehudiya in the Golan Heights. Then they confirmed it with excavations.

Archaeologists discovered red fox tracks in the fresh plaster of a Byzantine wall at Bethsaida (el-Araj).

Chandler Collins has written an excellent summary and analysis of the newly discovered “Siloam Dam” in Jerusalem. 

Work is underway on a Visitor Education Center on the Mount of Olives. The story includes other details about the area, such as the cost of a burial plot in the cemetery.

The entire Great Isaiah Scroll will be on display at the Israel Museum to mark the museum’s 60th anniversary.

Iran is not happy about the British Museum’s plan to loan the Cyrus Cylinder to the National Library of Israel. [EDIT: This story is from early 2024. The Cyrus Cylinder has not been in Israel since this story was written, as far as I know.]

New from IAA Reports: Khirbat ‘Amra: A Rural Site from the Hellenistic to Early Islamic Periods in the Beʼer Sheva‘ Valley, by Itamar Taxel and Noé D. Michael (open-access).

Hybrid lecture at the Albright on Dec 3: “The Legacy of Hansen House in Jerusalem,” by Susan Kennedy-Arenz. “This talk will describe the living conditions of Jerusalem’s leper community prior to the establishment of the first leper hospice in the mid-19th century.”

Hybrid lecture at the Albright on Dec 10: “The Rise of Christianity in Galilee: A Perspective from the Jewish Cities of Sepphoris and Tiberias,” by Shulamit Miller

Hybrid lecture at the Albright on Dec 17: “Albright 2025: The Year in Review,” by Director James Fraser

Preserving Bible Times is streaming Digging Deeper I (The Great Commission) and Digging Deeper II (The Jewish Mind of Jesus’ Day), free on YouTube.

Leon Mauldin shares several photos of the ancient city of Jokneam.

Logos subscribers can purchase Holman Illustrated Guide to Biblical Geography: Reading the Land, by Paul H. Wright, for about $8.

Alumni of Jerusalem University College are invited to an alumni gathering in Boston during the Annual Meetings.

Wayne Stiles is hosting an advanced tour of Israel next year, with visits to places that most groups never visit (including Dothan, Samaria, Solomon’s Pools, Bethany, Temple Mount, an optional 10-mile hike and river rafting, and more).

The new Job volume in the Photo Companion to the Bible includes 1,600 photos. The introductory sale ends in a few days.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Ted Weis, Arne Halbakken, Explorator, Paleojudaica

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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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