Philistines Archives - BiblePlaces.com

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Radiocarbon dating of seeds from the Ein Hatzeva granary dates the fortress to the early 8th century BC, proving that it was built not by Assyria. The study’s authors, however, assign the site not to Uzziah of Judah but to Jeroboam II of Israel based on their assumptions of regional power at the time.

Ynet News reports on the excavations underneath the Western Wall plaza that began when Covid restrictions closed the area to the public. The article includes many photos.

The Israeli government has approved $86 million to develop archaeological sites in the West Bank, including the establishment of heritage centers and tourism infrastructure.

Bible History Daily summarizes a BAR article that argues that the Siloam Inscription was carved to commemorate workers who died during construction of Hezekiah’s Tunnel.

Moshe Gilad writes about ancient Yavneh, the place “where Philistines and Crusaders cross paths.”

Abigail the Archaeologist writes about her week excavating Khirbet er-Rafid, a site near Shiloh.

The Annual of the Japanese Biblical Institute (2025) is online, including articles on temples in the southern Levant, the synagogue at Tel Rekhesh, and the disappearance of the biblical Philistines.

New release: Religion in Ancient Israel: Essays in Honour of John Day, edited by Katherine Southwood, Stuart Weeks, and H.G.M. Williamson (T&T Clark, $84; Amazon)

New release: Faith-Affirming Findings: 50 Archaeological Discoveries that Validate the Historicity and Reliability of Scripture, by Paul D. Weaver (Kregel Academic, $41). Phillip J. Long reviews it here.

HT: Agade

Tagged Jerusalem, Negev, Philistines, Resources, Samaria, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

An impressive 50-meter long tunnel, of unknown date and purpose, was discovered near Ramat Rahel south of Jerusalem. The tunnel is well-built with a staircase and entrance, and it probably dates to the Roman period or earlier.

An 8-year-old boy found a Roman-era statuette fragment while on a family hike in Makhtesh Ramon.

The Great Isaiah Scroll exhibition re-opened to the public yesterday and will be on display for the next four months.

Two rare and ancient coins allegedly smuggled out of Israel were returned by the US this week. The Persian-era tetradrachm is only the second known of its kind.

Adele Berlin writes about Psalm 122’s perspective of ancient Jerusalem.

Danny Jones discusses new research on the origins of the Philistines on Digging for Truth.

New release: The Names of Jerusalem: Jewish, Christian and Islamic Traditions, by Aaron Demsky, Christophe Rico, Iraj Sheidaee (Polis Institute, $32)

Westminster Books is running a sale on the five available volumes of the Lexham Geographic Commentary. (One volume is yet to come.) They are excellent.

First time on sale for Kindle: The Realia Jesus: An Archaeological Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, by David A. Fiensy ($2.99; paperback $34; Logos $22)

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Arne Halbakken

Tagged Antiquities Trade, Dead Sea Scrolls, Discoveries, Jerusalem, Museums, Negev, Philistines, Resources, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Archaeologists working in the City of David have found a necklace pendant depicting the menorah that dates to the Late Byzantine period when Jews were not allowed to enter Jerusalem.

“A rare clay oil lamp from the Hasmonean era was uncovered at the Nebi Samwil archaeological site northwest of Jerusalem on Sunday evening, the first night of Hanukkah.”

The Times of Israel runs a story about the previously reported Assyrian-era tombs in the Jezreel Valley.

David Ramati writes about some of the more recent studies related to Masada.

The Times of Israel explains the importance of the Mount of Olives, including important people buried there and controversy over the building of a visitor center.

“A new computational tool developed at the University of Haifa is changing how archaeologists document and analyze ancient ruins, using drone imagery and machine learning to reveal architectural patterns that cannot be identified from ground level.”

“In an apostolic letter dated December 11, 2025, Pope Leo XIV has placed Christian archaeology at the core of the Church’s intellectual and pastoral mission.”

On The Book and the Spade, Joan Taylor makes a case against Bethlehem being a little town when Jesus was born.

Leon Mauldin shares a panoramic photo of the Sorek Valley and Zorah, taken from Beth Shemesh.

New release: Tel Miqne-Ekron 14/1: Objects and Material Culture Studies: Middle Bronze Age II Through Iron Age II, edited by Seymour (Sy) Gitin (Eisenbrauns, $98 with code NR26)

New release: Tel Nagila: The Amiran/Eitan Excavations, edited by Joe Uziel, David Ilan, Matthew Susnow, and Aren M. Maeir (De Gruyter, $220)

The Hasmonean palaces at Jericho (Tulul Abu el-Alayiq) will be open to visitors tomorrow and Monday, and funds have been allocated to develop the site as a heritage destination in the coming year.

After the IAA moved its headquarters to the new Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel, discussions about the future of the Rockefeller Museum are taking place, including the possibility of turning it into a hotel.

HT: Agade, Alexander Schick, Andy Cook, Ted Weis, Explorator

Tagged Discoveries, Holidays, Jerusalem, Jezreel Valley, Jordan Rift, Museums, Philistines, Resources, Samaria, Shephelah, Technology, Tourism, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Archaeologists have discovered a large Early Bronze site on the outskirts of Beit Shemesh.

“Israeli researchers have posited a possible scientific explanation for the Christian ‘miraculous catch of fish.’”

A new study suggests that the faience head discovered at Abel Beth Maacah was “probably meant as a votive offering that depicted the person who was making the offering to the deity represented by the standing stone.” While the identity of that person has not been determined, they suggest it was either a king or a noble, but it is not clear if this individual was from Israel, Aram, Tyre, or Sidon.

Aren Maeir took a small team out to Gath for a one-week fall season.

A severe drought in Israel has led to a poor olive harvest this year.

Matthieu Richelle’s views of literacy in ancient Israel and Judah is the subject of an article in The Jerusalem Post. The academic article on which it is based may be found here.

Wayne Stiles is hosting a live Zoom walk-through on sites in the Old City of Jerusalem on November 4. Register here.

The 100th episode of This Week in the Ancient Near East looks at the question of how long Hezekiah reigned given evidence from tiny seal impressions.

Now on Digging for Truth: Isaiah: The Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries, with Bryan Windle

Hybrid lecture at the Albright on Dec 7, 5:00 pm local time, 10:00 am EST: “Staying on the Surface at Qadas,” by Rafi Greenberg (Zoom)

Over the past year, Hans Kristensen has written a number of well-documented articles on The Bible, Archaeology, and History blog, including:

For sale on Kindle: Ultimate Guide to the Holy Land: Hundreds of Full-Color Photos, Maps, Charts, and Reconstructions of the Bible Lands. I don’t know anything about this book beyond what is online, including that there are “more than 500 full-color maps, images, photos, and reconstructions.” The book is 1,260 pages long, no author is listed, and the sale price (today only?) is $6.55. The book may look nice on the new color Kindle.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Wayne Stiles, Joseph Lauer

Tagged Discoveries, Galilee, Jerusalem, Lectures, Philistines, Resources, Shephelah, Tourism, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Archaeologists working in the drainage channel under the Siloam Road have announced the discovery of a “complete tableware set of Jerusalem’s residents” and “a delicate glass vial, nearly perfectly preserved, several small oil lamps with soot still in them from use, various coins and beads, and a collection of ceramic vessels used to hold perfume and oil.”

A very rare bronze coin minted under Emperor Hadrian’s successor was discovered in the Temple Mount Sifting Project.

Chandler Collins’s latest Jerusalem in Brief “highlights the Hinnom Valley in the 19th century, an original guide to Avi-Yonah’s Jerusalem model, a correction to a previous post, and upcoming events on historical Jerusalem.”

The Jerusalem Post is reporting on Jodi Magness’s new book on Jerusalem.

There is no evidence that the Mazor Mausoleum was the tomb of John the Baptist.

Jacob Sivak argues on the basis of a coin hoard and other evidence that Jewish independence in the land of Israel did not end in AD 70,

A new archaeological journal entitled “CARMEL” has been launched by The School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures at the University of Haifa.

Joel Kramer’s latest video (with already 600k+ views!) is a witness stone mentioned in Joshua 24:26 and discovered at Shechem.

In a 30-minute video filmed on location at Gath, Nathan Steinmeyer talks with Aren Maeir about discuss the Philistines. This accompanies an article that Maeir wrote for the latest issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.

Leen Ritmeyer is impressed with a recently released 3D video on Herod’s Temple.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Ted Weis, Arne Halbakken, Wayne Stiles, Alexander Schick

Tagged Discoveries, Jerusalem, Philistines, Resources, Samaria, Temple Mount, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Archaeomagnetic dating of the outer revetment wall at Lachish confirms that the wall was destroyed in the Assyrian siege of 701 BC.

Ancient phylacteries were not colored black, as they are today, according to a study of several leather tefillin cases discovered near the Dead Sea. The underlying journal article is here.

“The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has opened a new visitors’ complex at its desert oasis facility, Einot Zukim (Ein Feshkha) on the northern Dead Sea.”

Suembikya Frumin explains how archaeobotany helps researchers to understand Philistine religion.

The top three reports in biblical archaeology last month were “studies were conducted on the Nile River, the Beth Shemesh Inscription, and destruction layers in Jerusalem.”

Neville Teller gives a brief review of Jodi Magness’s new book Jerusalem Through the Ages.

Zoom lecture on June 26: “Origins and Resilience: The Vitality of Judaism in Archaeology, Art and Texts,” by Paul Collins

On the latest episode of Digging for Truth, Bryan Windle discusses the reign of Mesha, king of Moab.

The summer issue of Biblical Archaeology Review includes articles on Gezer’s royal complex, excavations at a Moabite site, Byzantine paintings at Shivta, and more.

You do not see many photos illustrating John’s baptizing ministry at Aenon near Salim, but Ferrell Jenkins has one.

HT: Agade, Joseph Lauer, Gordon Franz, Wayne Stiles, Arne Halbakken, Mark Hoffman

Tagged Dead Sea, Jordan, Philistines, Shephelah, Tourism, Weekend Roundup