Samaria Archives - Page 2 of 36

Weekend Roundup

“Analysis of 3,000-year-old smelting droplets shows copper from Timna and Feinan was alloyed with tin at a mountain site in Samaria, revealing a budding regional trade and technology network.” The underlying journal article is here.

A fire along the shore of the Sea of Galilee cleared the overgrowth at el-Araj (possibly Bethsaida), exposing piles of stones which may be ancient buildings.

A new video tours the not-yet-open museum below the Western Wall plaza (22 min).

The first volume of the excavation reports is now open-access: Jerusalem Western Wall Plaza Excavations I: The Roman and Byzantine Remains; Architecture and Stratigraphy, by Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah (IAA Reports, 2019)

“Police arrested a 27-year-old Jewish suspect on Monday, accused of spray-painting ‘There’s a Holocaust in Gaza’ on the ancient stones of the Western Wall, Judaism’s second-holiest site.”

Chandler Collins explores the location and significance of the Mishneh in Jerusalem.

Archaeologists have found two ancient church buildings in Egypt’s Western Desert.

“It’s now official—the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) will hold its long-awaited grand opening on November 1.”

“A new artificial intelligence (AI) system has accurately read an ancient Hammurabi tablet with 98% precision, marking a significant step forward in translating some of the world’s earliest written laws.”

New release: Ancient Mediterranean Incarceration, by Matthew D. C. Larsen and Mark Letteney (UC Press, $13, open-access)

Bible Mapper Atlas has posted an audio-visual reading of Judges 4.

With excavations underway at Colossae, Ferrell Jenkins recalls his first visit to the site several decades ago.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Ted Weis, A.D. Riddle, Arne Halbakken, Wayne Stiles, Gordon Dickson, Andy Cook

Tagged Egypt, Galilee, Jerusalem, Museums, Samaria, Technology, Temple Mount, Turkey, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

“A four-line ancient Aramaic inscription, possibly inked by Jewish rebels from the Bar Kochba Revolt against the Romans in the 2nd century CE, has been discovered in a cave in the Judean Desert.”

An ivory fragment depicting a woman’s head was discovered in a layer of 7th-century BC fill material near the City of David’s eastern wall.

Rescue excavations along Route 60 north of Jerusalem uncovered a sophisticated ancient water system that includes “six water springs, a 200-meter-long channel, and, most recently, a large wall.” A local guide thinks it can become “a central attraction in Benjamin.” There is a video in Hebrew here (4 min).

After years of abandonment, a crocodile farm in the Jordan Valley underwent a “culling operation” in which 262 crocodiles were shot. Shev Tov Sasson was there on the morning of the operation, on his way to a night birding expedition near the Dead Sea.

The Tel Burna team is preparing to begin excavations at Tel ‘Ether later this month and they welcome volunteers.

The latest issue of Near Eastern Archaeology (subscription) is the first of two to commemorate the centennial of the University of Chicago excavations at Megiddo. The first issue provides articles providing introduction, background, and Bronze Age material. The second issue will focus on the Iron Age. (There is also a conference about Megiddo on October 9, but I’ve only yet found a flyer in Hebrew.)

“Jewish sages in Late Antiquity were not detached from the land but actively involved in the robust wine culture of the Roman-Byzantine world.”

BibleStock has released a new coaching video, this one exploring the Kidron Valley and how it connects the suffering David and the suffering Jesus.

Shmuel Browns notes that the En Gedi Nature Reserve remains closed, and he posts some photos of En Prat.

Lecture on Aug 13: “The Heartland of Judah: Excavations at Biblical Libnah,” by Steven M. Ortiz ($10)

The Albright Institute is hosting a book launch on September 3 (in-person and Zoom) for Ancient Jewish Food in Its Geographical and Cultural Contexts: What’s Cooking in the Talmuds?, by Susan Weingarten

New release: The City of Gaza in the Roman Period: The Numismatic Evidence (First Century BCE–Third Century CE), by Yoav Farhi (Israel Numismatic Society, 500 pages, $175)

Biblical Backgrounds has released some new wall maps – some smaller, some larger, and some sets.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Joseph Lauer, Arne Halbakken, Explorator

Tagged Dead Sea, Discoveries, Excavations, Israel's Coast, Jerusalem, Jezreel Valley, Judah, Lectures, Resources, Samaria, Shephelah, Tourism, Weekend Roundup

July Roundup, Part 1 (Israel)

A clay seal impression inscribed with a name mentioned in the books of Kings and Chronicles was discovered by the Temple Mount Sifting Project. It is possible, but not certain, that this is the same individual who served in King Josiah’s administration.

“A bronze coin minted in the fourth year of the Jewish Great Revolt against the Romans has been uncovered near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.” The story explains the differences between Year Four coins and those of earlier years.

“An exquisite golden ring and a pair of earrings dating to the Roman period (1st-3rd centuries CE) have recently been unearthed during archaeological excavations at the Sussita (Hippos) National Park.”

“A team of archaeologists has made a groundbreaking discovery in Israel, uncovering the remains of four donkeys that were ritually sacrificed over 4,500 years ago.” The underlying journal article is here.

The excavations of Shiloh believe they have found a multi-chambered gate complex where Eli died.

“Israeli researchers have harvested 1,500-year-old Byzantine-era grape varieties from a restored vineyard in the Negev Desert, part of an effort to recreate a renowned ancient wine that was once exported throughout Europe.” The underlying journal article is here.

“A rare manufacturing workshop for Canaanite blades — distinct flint tools primarily used for agricultural tasks — has been uncovered at Nahal Qomem, near the southern Israel city of Kiryat Gat.”

The archaeologist excavating Tel Azekah believes that Micah’s hometown of Moreshet Gat was Azekah and that we should understand the book of Micah very differently. The Haaretz article notes some of the problems with the proposal.

Israel’s Good Name reports on his outing to lookouts in western Samaria.

Craig Evans is on Digging for Truth to discuss Jesus and the 10th Roman Legion with relation to Mark 5.

Bryan Windle surveys the top three reports in biblical archaeology in the month of June.

Jerusalem Seminary has announced its full lineup of online courses for the fall and spring semesters.

Andy Cook has released a new BibleStock coaching video on the Jordan River. His goal is to help pastors and Bible teachers to use videos to help their audiences, and he explores how “place” and “story” are always connected.

BibleMapper has created an audio-visual reading of Joshua 18, visually walking the read through the tribal territory of Benjamin.

A Persian leopard at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo killed a zooworker yesterday.

Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, begins tonight. This article explains the day’s significance.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Arne Halbakken, Joseph Lauer, Explorator

Tagged Galilee, Holidays, Jerusalem, Lectures, Negev, Samaria, Shephelah, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

“Four rare bronze discs shaped like lion heads have been uncovered in a 1,900-year-old grave in central Israel.” The underlying journal article is here.

A nearly two-mile-long tunnel in the aqueduct system feeding Solomon’s Pools is longer than any other known in the Roman empire. The underlying journal article by David Deming provides much more information about the aqueducts and water supply of ancient Jerusalem.

Archaeologists working at Tel Dan have discovered evidence for ritual bathing in a temple reconstructed after the Seleucid conquest.

The Jerusalem Post has a story about Shiloh’s excavation team being evacuated when the war began. The Appalachian News-Express has a similar story about one of the participants.

Gordon Govier interviews Scott Stripling about the Shiloh excavations and the beginning of the war.

“Iranian cyber activists hacked the X/Twitter account of the Israel Antiquities Authority early on Sunday morning.”

Writing for The Times of Israel, archaeologist Aren Maeir considers the history of military confrontations between Persia and the West and suggests that “history has always been and will always be deceptive and fickle, and it is wise to exercise extreme caution before pretending to explain to the public what was and what will be.”

The Jerusalem Post runs a piece on the Cyrus Cylinder and its significance for Persian-Jewish relations.

Online lecture on July 17: “Reminiscences of the Masada Dig, 1963-5: Yigael Yadin and the British Connection,” by Tessa Rajak

New release: Bring Them into the Land: Studies in Honor of R. Steven Notley, edited by Jeffrey P. Arroyo Garcia, Daniel Machiela, Chad Pierce and Benjamin Wold (Wipf & Stock, 550 pages, $68; Kindle: $10)

One of the most potentially valuable tools I’ve used in AI recently is NotebookLM, and the NY Times explores how it can be used by historians.

There will be no roundups in the month of July.

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Explorator

Tagged Excavations, Galilee, Judah, Persia, Samaria, Technology, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

“A stunning marble sarcophagus carved with a raucous drinking contest between Dionysus and Heracles has been unearthed in Caesarea.”

In his latest video for Expedition Bible, Joel Kramer claims to have solved the problem of Ai with the discovery of Late Bronze pottery at et-Tell in a 2019 excavation. I’ll be interested to see the published report.

Susan Schmidt filmed pieces for several years to create a beautiful 11-minute video on the complete Nabatean Incense Route, from Petra to Gaza.

Nathan Steinmeyer explains a new theory about the location of the Valley of Rephaim.

Joe Zias: “Archaeological and epigraphic evidence indicates that the ‘Tomb of Absalom’ constitutes the earliest Judeo-Christian pilgrimage site in the Holy Land.”

The latest issue of Near Eastern Archaeology is focused on Megiddo in the Bronze Age. Access requires a subscription. The next issue is dedicated to Megiddo in the Iron Age.

In the latest Jerusalem in Brief, Chandler Collins reports on a lecture on Macalister and Duncan’s excavations and wonders why popular media is not reporting on the new interpretation of the Pool of Siloam/Birket al-Hamra.

Several long-time readers have written to say that they are really enjoying Doron Spielman’s new book, When the Stones Speak: The Remarkable Discovery of the City of David and What Israel’s Enemies Don’t Want You To Know.

Jerusalem University College has announced its lineup of fall online courses, including (not yet online):

Biblical Archaeology I, taught by Kyle Keimer
Biblical Jerusalem and Its Explorations, taught by Chandler Collins
The Life and Times of Paul, taught by Chris Vlachos
Ancient Egypt and the Bible, taught by Paul Wright
Palestinian Society and Politics, taught by Bernard Sabella

HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Luke Chandler

Tagged Discoveries, Israel's Coast, Jerusalem, Jezreel Valley, Judah, Lectures, Resources, Samaria, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Scholars have used radiocarbon dating and artificial intelligence to date some Dead Sea Scrolls manuscripts, with the results often providing earlier dates than previously believed based on paleographical analysis. Of particular interest is 4Q114 which preserves Daniel 8-11, now dated to 230–160 BC (earlier than it was written, according to critical scholars). The underlying journal article is here.

Excavations at Samaria-Sebaste have been underway for two weeks, and discoveries include a stone pavement and the base of a monument near the city gate.

Following a kerfuffle over a 5-ton Herodian stone on display at Ben Gurion Airport, the IAA has promised to rebury all Western Wall stones. The parties agree that Western Wall stones “must not be treated as archaeological exhibits but rather as sacred relics subject to Jewish law.” Stones on display elsewhere will be returned for burial, and the site will be fenced off to prevent the public from touching them.

Nathan Steinmeyer explains what the Galilee is.

Zoom lecture on June 10: “Hearing the Voices of the Dead in Ancient Israel,” by Elizabeth Bloch-Smith ($10)

BAS is offering a four-lecture course with Sidnie White Crawford about ancient libraries, focusing especially on the Dead Sea Scrolls ($149).

I recently read The Odyssey of Marcus Panthera: A Journey to the Land of Israel in the First Century, by Makram Mesherky (Gesher Media, 2024, $25). The author is a Palestinian believer whose fictional account reads like a travelogue during the time of Jesus. The book is not long, is easy to read, and is loaded with full-color illustrations.

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

Tagged Dead Sea Scrolls, Excavations, Galilee, Jerusalem, Lectures, Resources, Samaria, Temple Mount, Weekend Roundup