“The Legio camp [at Megiddo] is the only full-scale imperial Roman legionary base found so far in the eastern empire” and to date they’ve unearthed a monumental gate, a dedicatory inscription, and the cremated remains of a Roman soldier.
The first royal winery of King Herod was discovered at the Herodium. The story does not seem to be in the English press yet, but you can read a Google-translated version of the Israel Nature and Parks
Authority story here. UPDATE: I’ve posted Joseph Lauer’s improved translation here.
Some Israelis are accusing authorities of not protecting Herod’s palace at Jericho from destruction caused by the nearby building of homes.
A new exhibit at the Haifa Hostel tells the story of ancient Castra on the slopes of Mount Carmel.
A new exhibit at the Hecht Museum at the University of Haifa documents the transition of the city of Sussita (Hippos) from pagan to Christian.
The ASOR Blog has a well-illustrated piece on the Ottoman and Turkish history of Majdal Yābā (aka Migdal Aphek, Mirabel).
Leen Ritmeyer explains how Jerusalem’s garbage dump refutes the theory that the temple was built over the Gihon Spring.
New from Wayne Stiles: How to follow God by pondering amazing bird migrations in Israel.
Now published: The Elephant Mosaic Panel in the Synagogue at Huqoq, by Karen Britt and Ra’anan
Boustan. Authorized photos are available at National Geographic. Dr. Britt will lecture on the subject on Feb. 21 at UNC Asheville.
At The Book and the Spade, John DeLancey talks with Gordon Govier about Excavation Plans for 2018.
Israel’s Good Name describes his experience in an archaeological survey of Tel Goded (Moresheth-Gath?) in part 1 and part 2.
With 3.6 million tourists in 2017, Israel hit a new record. This was a 25% increase over 2016. For some trends in tourism between 1990 and 2011, see this booklet.
Israel saw lots of rain yesterday, but probably not the “100 inches” claimed in this article’s subhead.
Lawrence Stager died at the age of 74 after a fall at his home. He directed the excavations at Ashkelon for 30 years.
HT: Agade, Joseph Lauer, Keith Keyser, Charles Savelle