If you’re in the Dallas area this Friday, you might want to stop in for a free lecture on Tel Burna (possibly biblical Libnah) at Dallas Theological Seminary. The announcement gives location details but is not clear who is giving the lecture. I think it is Chris McKinny, one-time writer of our popular “Secret Places” series. (We’re hoping we see Chris back around these parts before too long!)
I would like to see this:
Khirbet el-Maqatir: History of a Biblical Site will be a year-long exhibit of 42 artifacts from excavations in Israel at Khirbet el-Maqatir, thought to be the site of ancient Ai from Joshua 7-8. The Civil Administration for Judea and Samaria has approved the loan of these artifacts for exhibit at the Houston Baptist University’s Dunham Bible Museum from January 21-December 19, 2014. In conjunction with the exhibit, a symposium will be held on February 8th, focusing on the role of archaeology in understanding ancient history and biblical studies as well, including critical reflection on the excavations at Khirbet el-Maqatir and what light they shed on the ancient, biblical world. Starting from Genesis 12-13 and moving toward Maqatir’s magnificent monastery, 4,000 years of history will be on display. Special attention will be given to the Late Bronze Age fortress (Ai of Joshua 7-8) and the Early Roman/New Testament village (perhaps Ephraim of John 11:54).
I don’t believe that these artifacts have been on public display before. Khirbet el-Maqatir has been excavated under the direction of Bryant Wood since 1995.
The website also announces a conference to be held in conjunction with the exhibit. Speakers include Bryant Wood, Eugene Merrill, and Leen Ritmeyer. All of the details are here.
Norma Franklin asks, Why was Jezreel so important to the kingdom of Israel? Her claim that “there is no mention in the biblical narrative” of an Israelite palace is incorrect (1 Kings 21:1).
Another story on the excavations of Carchemish reports that the Japanese offered a million dollars for the opportunity to dig there.
The pigs in ancient Israel allegedly came from Europe.
Five historical monuments have been destroyed in Syria’s civil war. The photos show the damage.
How did ancient Greek music sound? The BBC reports on the research of Armand D’Angour.
How do you avoid losing what you learned on your trip to the Holy Land? Wayne Stiles suggests seven ways. My favorite is #4: Share with people what you have learned and experienced.
Leon Mauldin is doing a series on the cities of refuge. So far, he’s visited Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron.
All of the entries from Skyview’s 2013 Creative Shot Contest are online.
The Batchelder Conference of Biblical Archeology at the University of Nebraska is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday.
Haaretz profiles the Mormon campus on the Mount of Olives, with details about the campus architecture and the “Non-Proselyting Agreement.”
HT: Jack Sasson
Though the lectures are in Hebrew and in Haifa, the subject matter merits re-posting this conference schedule from the Agade list.
Greetings: Prof. Reuven Snir, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Haifa
Opening Remarks: Prof. Gershon Galil, Head of the MA Program “The Bible and its World”, University of Haifa
09:00-09:20 Dr. Erez Ben-Yosef, Tel Aviv University, Transparent Archaeology and Biased Interpretations in the Study of the United Monarchy: Methodological Insights from the Ancient Copper Mines of the Arabah
09:20-09:40 Dr. Moti Heiman, Israel Antiquities Authority and Bar-Ilan University, The Iron Age II in the Negev Highland: Material Culture, Economy and Population in A Desert Environment
09:40-10:15 Prof. David Ussishkin, Tel Aviv University, “Solomon’s Gate” at Megiddo: A Debate of Fifty Years
10:15-10:35 Dr. Doron Ben-Ami, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hazor in the Iron Age IIA: The Stratigraphical and Chronological setting of the First Fortified Town
11:00-11:20 Dr. Haggai Misgav, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The 10th Century BCE Inscriptions Reconsidered
11:20-12:00 Prof. Amihai Mazar, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Kingdom of David and Solomon and the Archaeological Research: An Ongoing Story
12:00-12:40 Prof. Gershon Galil, University of Haifa, Israel and Palistin in the 11th-9th Centuries BCE in Light of New Epigraphic and Archaeological Data
14:00-14:20 Dr. Ayelet Gilboa, University of Haifa and Prof. Ilan Sharon, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Capital of Solomon’s Fourth District? Israelite Dor
14:20-14:40 Mr. Saar Ganor, Israel Antiquities Authority, Seven Seasons of Excavation at Khirbet Qeiyafa
14:40-15:00 Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu and Prof. Yosef Garfinkel, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, New Light on Solomon’s Palace and Temple and on the Second Temple in View of the Shrine Model from Khirbet Qeiyafa
15: 00-15:30 Prof. Avraham Faust, Bar-Ilan University, Between Judah and Philistia: Settlement Dynamics and Changes in Material Culture in the 10th Century BCE
Yitzhak Sapir claims that Matthew Kalman has misrepresented the verdict regarding the ownership of Oded Golan’s artifacts. Kalman has responded briefly.
A report from this season’s excavations of the Roman camp of Legio near Megiddo is now online.
Wayne Stiles provides a perspective, with photos and video, from atop the walls of Jerusalem.
The lecture schedule for the Bible and Archaeology Fest is now online. There are many interesting topics planned.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is now offering a masters of arts in biblical archaeology in partnership with Mississippi State University.
Haaretz reports on students excavating in the port of Dor as part of a new English MA in Maritime
Civilizations at Haifa University.
An article at The Christian Science Monitor about Khirbet Qeiyafa is more interesting for its profile of Israel Finkelstein.
Barry Britnell suggests a number of opportunities to learn.
Britnell also links to a beautiful video on the Sky Above Jerusalem.
HT: Joseph Lauer, Jack Sasson
A life-size statue of Ramses II was uncovered this week in Tell Basta in Egypt. The article does not note that Tell Basta is likely the site of biblical Bubastis (Ezek 30:17).
Israel has halted the auctioning of stolen Egyptian artifacts.
Ferrell Jenkins reports on recent vandalism in the Protestant Cemetery on Mount Zion.
Mark Hoffman has now shared his Google Earth Exercise for Biblical Geography (see here for the Google Maps Exercise).
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History (13 vols.) is reviewed by John Vanderspoel.
“In Israel, Dig Beneath the Headline for Archaeological Truth.” There are important things to be said concerning the sensationalism of archaeology and the truth of the Bible, but you won’t find them in this article at The Media Line.
Lucas L. Schulte will be lecturing on “Archeology of the Lands of the Bible: Illuminating Nehemiah” on Oct. 22, 4:30 p.m. at the Dumke Commons of Occidental College.
Wayne Stiles explains why you should send your pastor to Israel.
Aren Maeir reviews The Archaeology of Israelite Society in Iron Age II, by Avraham Faust.
“The British Museum and US-based Penn Museum are collaborating on the creation of a web
resource to display archaeologist Leonard Woolley’s Mesopotamian excavations from 1922-34.”
An op-ed in the LA Times argues that if you want to protect Syria’s antiquities, don’t buy them.
Today you can purchase the HCSB Study Bible on Kindle for just $2.99. The work includes several of our photos.
HT: Jack Sasson