Archaeologists have found a hidden tomb underneath the Kazneh in Petra, and unlike other tombs, this one was filled with ancient artifacts and remains of 12 individuals.
A team excavating in Anemurium in southern Turkey uncovered a 2nd-century AD inscription honoring a wrestler.
Archaeologists have discovered one of the oldest church buildings in the world in Armenia.
“478 artifacts were uncovered during an excavation expedition in the historic province of Babylon.”
The planting of ancient seeds discovered in the Judean wilderness produced Commiphora, a plant not known to have existed in Israel. Despite hopes, it turns out not to be the legendary afarsimon, but it may be the biblical plant known as tsori. And perhaps it was used as stock for afarsimon.
Antiquities thieves were caught looting Kh. Umm a-Ros in the Shephelah.
The latest issue of Jerusalem in Brief looks at “the construction of Herod’s Temple Mount, maps and plans from Charles Warren, and a reflection on the Gennath Gate.”
Alan Rosenbaum recreates what a pilgrim’s journey to Jerusalem during Sukkot in the first century would have been like.
Norma Franklin writes about the “etrog, a royal Assyrian aromatic purifier.”
The Jerusalem Post has a story about Jordan D. Rosenblum’s new book, Forbidden: A 3,000-Year History of Jews and the Pig.
On Digging for Truth, Scott Stripling considers connections between the Nuzi Tablets and the book of Genesis.
Zoom lecture on Nov 1: “Eye-paints in the Hebrew Bible: Looking for Meaning,” by Dr. Susannah Rees.
Just released: A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000–323 BC, 4th ed, by Marc Van De Mieroop (Blackwell History of the Ancient World, $37-$46)
Manfried Dietrich, founder of “Alter Orient und Altes Testament” and “Ugarit-Forschungen,” and Ugarit-Verlag, died earlier this month.
Experience Israel Now has just released Andy Cook’s new book, The King of Bethlehem. The book is loaded with full-color photographs and important historical and cultural background.
HT: Agade, Gordon Franz, Ted Weis, Mark Hoffman, Wayne Stiles
