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 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 system of tunnels has been discovered under the Gan Hashlosha National Park, used during the Mamluk period for sugar mills.

The Temple Mount Sifting Project’s find of the month is a bronze crotal bell with an iron chain attachment.

On Digging for Truth, Abigail Van Huss reports on her research into Israel’s settlement in the hill country.

“What happened to the ark of the covenant?” is the topic of Chris McKinny’s conversation with Gordon Govier on The Book and the Spade.

Ami Nadir graduated with his PhD in archaeology from Ben-Gurion University at age 81.

Stephen Pfann, Dead Sea Scrolls scholar and co-founder (with his wife Claire) of the University of the Holy Land, died recently.

New release: A Prophet to the Nations: Archaeological and Historical Perspectives on Jeremiah 46–51, edited by Jordan Davis and Benedikt Hensel (Vetus Testamentum et Orbis Antiquus, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht; EUR 140; digital is open access)

The latest issue of Tel Aviv is fully open access. It includes articles on Hazor, Horvat Tevet, and more.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Alexander Schick, Arne Halbakken, Charles Savelle, 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 2

Archaeologists believe that they have discovered the lost city of Tharais, depicted on the Madaba Mosaic Map, in southern Jordan.

“Two seal impressions found on a large storage vessel, dated to the Early Bronze Age (2700–2300 BC), raise compelling questions about the role of Greece’s Cyclades islands in the emergence of script—potentially rewriting the more commonly accepted narrative that places the birth of writing on Minoan Crete at around 2000 BC.”

St. Catherine’s Monastery has been closed to all visitors in protest of an Egyptian court ruling that challenges its ownership status. An agreement may have been reached on Wednesday.

“The Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires has published an annotated text corpus of some 6,000 Babylonian texts from the sixth and fifth centuries BCE.”

Leonard J. Greenspoon, best known for his work in Septuagint and Jewish Bible translations, died recently.

Walter Brueggemann, a widely published OT scholar, died on Thursday. Brent A. Strawn has written a tribute.

Turkish Archaeological News surveys the main stories of the month of May.

Bible Archaeology Report’s top three reports for May “include shipwrecks, gold, and a stone capital with an intriguing image.”

HT: Agade, Keith Keyser, Arne Halbakken, Alexander Schick, Gordon Franz, Mark V. Hoffman, Ted Weis

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Weekend Roundup, Part 2

“Archaeologists in southern Jordan have uncovered a hieroglyphic inscription bearing the royal cartouche of Pharaoh Ramesses III.”

Egyptian authorities “announced the discovery of the tomb of Prince Weser Khaf Ra, son of King Userkaf, the founding monarch of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty, in the Saqqara necropolis.”

“A California research collective known as Noah’s Ark Scan says it will begin the first controlled excavation of the Durupınar Site on Mount Ararat’s southern flank.”

The NY Times has posted a beautiful photo essay of the mostly open Grand Egyptian Museum.

A new genetic study reveals that the people of Carthage were not significantly related to the Phoenicians.

Brent Nongbri writes about the recently discovered mikveh at Ostia as well as some of the Jewish material on display in the Ostia Museum.

Smithsonian magazine asks if “Talos, the bronze automaton who guarded the island of Crete in Greek myth [was] an early example of artificial intelligence.”

Leon Mauldin has posted some recent photos of Istanbul’s ancient water system.

New release: Archaeology and the Ministry of Paul: A Visual Guide, by David A. deSilva (Baker, 320 pages, full-color, $33; also on Logos)

New release: Populus: Living and Dying in Ancient Rome, by Guy de la Bédoyère (University of Chicago, 500 pages, $24)

New release: The Aegean and Cyprus: Interaction Between Two Distinct Cultural Mediterranean Areas from the Third Millennium to ca 1200 BC, by Giampaolo Graziadio (free download)

New release: The Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and Scribal Scholarship in Antiquity: Studies in Honor of Arie van der Kooij on the Occasion of his Eightieth Birthday, edited by Wilson de Angelo Cunha, Martin Rösel, and Michael N. Van der Meer (Peeters, 65 euros, free download)

The WSJ reviews Toby Wilkinson’s new book, The Last Dynasty: Ancient Egypt from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra ($29 at Amazon).

Leslie C. Allen, longtime professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, died on April 10.

Bible Passages has just released two short videos (7 min ea):

  • Secrets of the Arch of Titus – goes beyond the well-known menorah and table of showbread to investigate scenes of military conquest, dedicatory inscriptions, and the depiction of a deified emperor.
  • Erastus: Did Paul Get It Right? – considers the inscription for its insight into the social and economic standing of early Christians as well as how this archaeological discovery supports the historicity of Romans 16:23.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Keith Keyser, 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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