Weekend Roundup Archives - BiblePlaces.com

Weekend Roundup, Part 2

The recent discovery of 131 cuneiform tablets at Kayalipinar, Turkey, brings the total to 184, making it “the most comprehensive Hittite archive discovered in this century.”

“Remains of what appears to be the world’s oldest shipwreck have been found near the island of Kekova, off the southwest coast of Turkey.” The Early Bronze Age vessel was carrying amphorae likely containing oil or wine.

“Fragments of two massive statues depicting Ramesses II were discovered by accident by a farmer working on his land in a northern Egyptian village.”

Thomas E. Levy reviews the “Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold” exhibition in London and marvels at the lack of mention of the biblical exodus. He notes as well the absence of the Merneptah Stele.

The Agios Athanasios site in Greece, popularly known as the “School of Homer,” will be transformed into an archaeological park and opened to the public.

Greece’s National Archaeological Museum has extended its temporary exhibition, “Pylos of Nestor: A Mycenaean Kingdom Revealed,” until Sunday, 31 January 2027.

New release: The Synagogue at Sardis: Archaeological Exploration of Sardis Reports, by Andrew R. Seager, Frank Moore Cross, Jane DeRose Evans, et al. ($120)

A Roman imperial marble torso sold at Sotheby’s for $34.3 million, setting an auction record for a Roman antiquity. Sotheby’s has more information about the artifact.

“Retired Turkish archaeology professor Fahri Isik has raised concerns over the growing number of archaeology departments in Türkiye, arguing that universities should prioritize academic expertise, research infrastructure and long-term institutional development rather than simply opening new programs.”

Jason Borges is offering free reviews of itineraries for biblical tours in Turkey.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Explorator

Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Greece, Museums, New Exhibits, Resources, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Tel Shiqmona is open to visitors after a two-year, $1 million renovation project.

J. D. Cohen writes about ten important biblical archaeological finds.

Efforts to restore the Birkatain archaeological site near Jerash, including its Roman pools and theater, have so far been unsuccessful.

New article in Currents in Biblical Research: “The Changing Scale of Israelite Religion: Embodiment, Space, and Material Practice,” by Jeremy D. Smoak (open-access)

New release: The Potential of Agriculture in the Phoenician Homeland: Landscape and Land Use in Southern Lebanon during the Late Iron Age and Persian Period, by Julia Rummel (BAR Publishing, 65 €)

Zoom lecture on Nov 4: “The First Oil Age: Olives, Copper & the Edge of Urbanism in the Ancient Levant,” by Jaimie Lovell (A$25; free for students)

Hybrid symposium on Feb 7, 2027: “Jerusalem Archaeology: Between Past and Present,” with Jodi Magness, Shimon Gibson and Andrew Lawler (Biblical Archaeology Society, $69)

Paul Anderson is a guest on The Book and the Spade to talk about the new book he edited on Archaeology, Jesus, and the Gospel of John.

Tagged Israel's Coast, Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, Lectures, Tourism, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup

Archaeologists uncovered a 1,000-foot section of the Lower Aqueduct between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. This aqueduct was in use from 100 BC until about 100 years ago.

A seal impression discovered by the Temple Mount Sifting Project and possibly connected to an adviser to King Josiah will be published by the end of the year.

“A bronze signet ring depicting the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, has been discovered beneath the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of the Egyptian city.”

A new study of a Byzantine-era church mosaic discovered at Hadrianoupolis suggests that its depiction of the four rivers flowing from the Garden of Eden may have been intended to instruct worshippers in spiritual virtues.

Zev Stub reviews an exhibition at the Israel Museum, “Tiny Footprints: Childhood in the Ancient Land of Israel.”

“Israel on Tuesday returned a collection of 22 artifacts illegally removed from Greece, in the first repatriation of its kind between the two countries.”

Lauren K. McCormick considers what has been learned from the contents of ancient toilets in a preview of an article in Biblical Archaeology Review.

Lauren K. McCormick writes an explainer about the Bar Kokhba Revolt.

Hybrid lecture at the Albright on Oct 28: “A Taste of the Holy Land? Exploring Travel & Hospitality in Early 19th-Century Ottoman Palestine,” by Federica A. Broilo

On the Biblical World podcast, Steve Notley joins Chris McKinny in an on-location interview at el-Araj, the New Testament site of Bethsaida.

HT: Agade

Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Galilee, Jerusalem, Lectures, Museums, New Exhibits, Temple Mount, Turkey, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup

A new study of the industrial compound at Tel Shiqmona reveals that the space was “structured by the seasonal cycle: olive pressing in late autumn, livestock sheltering in winter, and textile production in spring.” A news report may be found here.

“Two rediscovered photographs from a 1930s excavation show where tombs were located inside the North Church baptistery” of Shivta.

The Israeli government has begun renovating “Herod’s Pools,” located near the Petzael Springs in the Jordan Valley. Another project recently begun is the “Joshua Trail” which will include a suspension bridge between Elon Moreh and Mount Kabir.

Chandler Collins has converted his Jerusalem Tracker Part 2 series into “Jerusalem in Brief,” focusing on the most interesting stories and providing further comment and context.

Researchers believe there are additional rooms behind King Tut’s burial chamber based upon “cumulative architectural, decorative, and geophysical indicators.” Kara Cooney gives some fascinating background.

“Forensic reexaminations of 5,000-year-old skulls indicate over a dozen ancient Egyptian royal attendants met gruesome ends to honor their beloved, deceased pharaohs.”

“An ancient Greek funeral elegy stele was found within a pyramid-shaped mud-brick tomb in the Bir al-Shaghala archaeological site in the Dakhla Oasis.”

An AI-generated design depicting Tutankhamun and Nefertiti has been removed after residents of Cairo complained about their skin color.

Turkish Archaeological News rounds up the top stories for the month of September.

Archaeologists working in southern Turkey may have discovered tombs belonging to Alexander the Great’s soldiers.

The archaeological site of ancient Nicopolis, which Paul planned to visit (Titus 3:12), has reopened after a major restoration project.

“The top three reports in biblical archaeology in September 2026 included discoveries of an ancient treaty, a ritual bath, and a famous school.”

New release: Forgotten Empires – Remembered. Studies on the Ancient Near East in Honour of John E. Curtis, edited by Dirk Wicke, Paul Collins and Nigel Tallis (Zaphon, 125 €)

Ellen Morris reviews Eric H. Cline’s new book, Love, War, and Diplomacy: The Discovery of the Amarna Letters and the Bronze Age World They Revealed.

For sale on Kindle: Jesus, A Visual History: The Dramatic Story of the Messiah in the Holy Land, by Donald Brake with me ($4.99)

HT: Agade, Explorator, Mark Hoffman, Paleojudaica

Tagged Egypt, Greece, Israel's Coast, Jerusalem, Jordan Rift, Negev, Resources, Samaria, Technology, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup

A new study based on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 will allow scholars to more accurately date other ancient volcanic eruptions.

“The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan (U-M) has opened its first new permanent gallery in nearly two decades: The Byzantine and Islamic Worlds: 400–1800.”

CBN News has produced a 25-minute special on the first-century street from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount.

CBN News has created a 10-minute video on the special exhibit of the Great Isaiah Scroll at the Israel Museum.

The Colosseum in Rome was closed for two days after a worker fell to his death.

Elon Gilad surveys the major views on the origins of the Samaritans.

Indiana Jones is the best and worst thing to happen to archaeology.

James Hoffmeier talks about the historical and archaeological context of the exodus on The Week in Bible Prophecy.

Steven Notley is on The Book and the Spade to discuss finding Bethsaida.

Free hybrid lecture at Harvard on Oct 21: “The Many Lives of Theban Tomb 16,” by Suzanne Onstine

The program is online for last week’s conference, “The Medes: 25 Years Afterwards.” The recordings are posted on YouTube.

New release: Bible Mapper Atlas, Volume 1 (Old Testament) – includes nearly all the online maps along with 90 photographs and a timeline. A second volume will include all of the New Testament maps.

Jason Borges has posted an updated version of his “Public Inscriptions at the Seven Churches of Revelation: A Historical Introduction for Guides, With Translations and Explanations.”

Bible Odyssey has published some new short articles:

Horses in the Hebrew Bible, by Kirsty L. Jones
Patmos, by Ian Boxall
The James Ossuary, by Jonathan L. Reed

If you are planning to be at the Annual Meetings in Denver, I’ll be giving a couple of papers and would be happy to see you:

Evangelical Theological Society, Nov 17, Psalms and Hebrew Poetry section, “Psalm 69 and the Messianic Context of Psalms Book II”
Society of Biblical Literature, Nov 22, Historical Geography of the Biblical World Section, Celebrating the Publication of the Lexham Geographic Commentary, “The Palace at Susa and the Geographical Setting of the Book of Esther.”

HT: Agade, Alexander Schick, Explorator

Tagged Dead Sea Scrolls, Egypt, Galilee, Italy, Jerusalem, Lectures, Museums, Persia, Resources, Samaria, Technology, Turkey, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup, Part 2

Archaeologists in Turkey have identified another fragment of the treaty between pharaoh Ramesses II and the Hittite king Hattusili III. A larger photo is here.

“An ancient fortress that guarded Egypt’s western frontier more than 3,000 years ago has yielded a rare horse burial, inscriptions linked to Ramesses II and evidence of military and daily life.”

Underwater explorers are returning to the submerged Phoenician and Roman remains off the coast of Tyre.

Laser scans of ancient temple walls at Kition Kathari revealed 23 previously unrecognized ship carvings that are nearly invisible to the human eye.

On the Biblical World podcast, Jason Borges interviews Turkish archaeologist Prof. Ilker Mimiroglu about the excavations at Lystra.

Restoration of Istanbul’s Museum of the Ancient Orient has been completed after three years.

“Excavating Antioch: The Archaeology of an Ancient City” is a new exhibition at the Davis Museum at Wellesley College.

The American School of Classical Studies at Athens is offering three excavation and conservation opportunities for students next year: (1) Agora excavation; (2) archaeological conservation; (3) Corinth excavation.

Greece’s Ministry of Culture is beginning three projects to protect and display archaeological remains at Olympia.

An upcoming exhibition, “Athena, the Stage is Yours: The Parthenon Puzzle,” will attempt “to document a new, archaeologically sound proposal for the complete reconstruction of the sculptures on the east pediment of the Parthenon.”

A four-year project to improve the visitor experience at Athens’s Kerameikos archaeological site has been completed.

“Charles K. Williams II, the renowned American archaeologist who devoted more than three decades to excavations at Ancient Corinth, died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 96.”

“A new study of nearly 300,000 kilometers of Roman roads shows how geography and major cities shaped movement across the empire. The findings challenge the old idea that Roman roads formed a simple system leading toward Rome.”

Recent release: Ancient Persian: A Linguistic History, by Kevin T. van Bladel (Cambridge University Press; open access)

A new project has been announced for the digital encoding of the Leningrad Codex.

Scientists working to decipher the Herculaneum papyri are burning modern papyrus scrolls to test methods for reading the ancient carbonized texts.

A mathematician is challenging the idea that the Parthenon’s subtly curved stylobate was designed to make the building appear straighter to the human eye.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Explorator

Tagged Discoveries, Excavations, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean Islands, Museums, New Exhibits, Persia, Resources, Sad News, Technology, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup