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Weekend Roundup, Part 2

“A marble statue of Hermes from the Roman Imperial Period was found during the 2024 excavation season in the ancient city of Aspendos.”

Smithsonian Magazine runs a feature article from a forthcoming book by Joshua Hammer about the four-way mid-19th-century race to decode the Akkadian language.

Researchers at Cornell University and Tel Aviv University are developing methods to use AI in the deciphering of cuneiform tablets.

A. Bernard Knapp explores the relationship between Cyprus and Ugarit in the Late Bronze Age. His recent book on the subject is free to read online.

“The 2,000-year-old water channels of the ancient city of Smyrna in Izmir continue to function as they did centuries ago.”

“The British Museum has just unveiled the winning design in an international architectural competition for the substantial revamp of the so-called Western Range of the museum.” This article in the Greek City Times wonders whether this renovation includes a space for the Parthenon Marbles.

An archaeological display of 50 artifacts sponsored by the Associates for Biblical Research will be exhibited over Easter weekend at the Creation Museum in Kentucky.

Available next month: Archaeology and the Ministry of the Apostle Paul: A Visual Guide, by David A. deSilva (Baker Academic, $33)

Zoom lecture on March 17: “From Online Auction to JTS Special Collections: How Two Historic Bibles Were Reunited in the JTS Library,” by David Moster

Hybrid lecture at Harvard on March 26: “Murder, Poetry, and Scribes in Ancient Egypt,” by Margaret Geoga

Michael Danti and John MacGinnis are guests on Thin End of the Wedge to discuss “Nimrud: Post-conflict Archaeology in the Heartland of Assyria.”

“The Institute of Classical Studies, in collaboration with the Faculty of Linguistics and the Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies at the University of Oxford, will offer two free, online semi-intensive courses in Phoenician.” One course is at the elementary level, the second is intermediate, and both are on Zoom.

Turkish Archaeological News reviews the most important discoveries in the month of February.

Paul L. Maier, ancient history scholar and author of Pontius Pilate, The Flames of Rome, and numerous other works, died last month.

HT: Agade, Joseph Lauer, Keith Keyser, Gordon Franz, Arne Halbakken, Ted Weis

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Archaeologists have discovered at Megiddo a collection of ceramics possibly linked to Pharaoh Necho’s army (pdf here). Necho killed Judah’s King Josiah in 609 BC. The underlying journal article is available for purchase.

Archaeologists have launched a new excavation at Alexandrium/Sartaba, the first in more than 40 years.

The Roman period gate beneath Damascus Gate in Jerusalem has re-opened and now features a new exhibit.

The latest Jerusalem Tracker lists dozens of the newest publications related to the Holy City.

The 50th anniversary issue of Biblical Archaeology Review includes a number of important articles:

  • “A Decade of Discoveries in Biblical Jerusalem,” by Yuval Gadot, Yiftah Shalev, and Joe Uziel
  • “Nails or Knots—How Was Jesus Crucified?,” by Jeffrey P. Arroyo García
  • “Breaking New Ground: Celebrating 50 Years of Biblical Archaeology”
  • “New Directions: How Archaeology Illuminates the Bible,”
    by Jennie Ebeling

Hybrid lecture at the Albright on March 12: “Tel Lachish 2013-2017: Excavations of the Palace Domestic Quarter, Area AA,” by Michael G. Hasel

Webinar on March 19: “Amulets and their Critics: Jews, Christians, and Samaritans in Late Antique Palestine,” by Megan Nutzman

Nathan Steinmeyer continues his series on geographical regions of Israel with a look at the Hula Valley.

Bryan Windle summarizes the top three reports in biblical archaeology in the month of February.

Chris McKinny and Kyle Keimer conclude their review of the best archaeological finds of last year on the Biblical World podcast.

Jerusalem University College has several short-term programs scheduled for the coming months:

HT: Agade, Joseph Lauer, Keith Keyser, Gordon Franz, Arne Halbakken, Ted Weis

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Weekend Roundup, Part 2

A new study reveals that ancient Egyptian mummified bodies smelled “woody,” “spicy,” and “sweet.”

Archaeologists working in Egypt have completed the excavation and relocation of a gold processing complex in use for a millennium beginning circa 1000 BC.

Archaeologists working in central Turkey have found evidence of ironmaking dating to 2200 BC.

A new study has been released describing the “production and use of obsidian mirrors found at Tepecik Çiftlik” in central Turkey.

“Archaeologists excavating Göbekli Tepe have uncovered evidence that challenges previous theories about the site’s purpose.”

“Authorities in Turkey have sealed off a luxury spa that was set up by illegally modifying a 1,500-year-old cistern near Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.”

A headless bronze statue believed to depict Marcus Aurelius is being returned by The Cleveland Museum of Art to Turkey.

“Archaeologists in Pompeii have unearthed a rare depiction of initiation rites into a secret female cult that centred on Dionysus.”

A new theory has been proposed to explain how the brains of a man who died in the Mount Vesuvius explosion turned to glass.

“A close look at Pompeii’s stone-paved streets has shown how traffic through the ancient city changed dramatically after it was incorporated into the Roman world.” (subscription)

Hybrid lecture on March 12 at ISAC: “Epigraphy and Exploration at Beni Hassan, Egypt,” by Anna-Latifa Mourad Cizek

The Jerusalem Post explains why mummies are disappearing from museums.

The palace of Knossos set a new record in 2024 with more than one million visitors.

Howard Carter’s lost suitcase has been found and will be auctioned.

HT: Agade, Explorator, Gordon Franz, Ted Weis, Paleojudaica

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

Bible History Daily has posted a video of a recent presentation by Chris McKinny and Erika Brown of top finds in biblical archaeology in 2024.

Paul S. Evans uses the War of 1812 as an analogy to explain how neither the Assyrians nor the biblical writers were deceptive in claiming victory in Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah in 701 BC.

A new exhibit entitled “Treasures Saved from Gaza” will be going on display at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris on April 2 (subscription).

“Divine Warrior” is the latest episode in Walking The Text’s series on Biblical Images of God.

Zoom lecture on March 5: “Refugees in the Early Iron Southern Levant,” by David Brown

New release: Urbanism in the Iron Age Levant and Beyond: Research on Israel and Aram in Biblical Times VII, edited by Aren Maeir, Shira Albaz, and Angelika Berlejung (Mohr Siebeck, €170)

The latest issue of Buried History has been released (open-access).

A new group of Dead Sea Scrolls have been added to the exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Bezalel Porten, professor emeritus at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, died this week.

Jerusalem Seminary is hosting two free online lectures. Register here.

  • March 1: “The Shepherd-King, the Tribulation and the End of Exile,” by Dr. Noel Rabinowitz
  • March 8: “Engaging the Oral Torah with Yeshua/Jesus,” by Elazar Brandt

HT: Agade, Explorator, Gordon Franz, Ted Weis

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Weekend Roundup, Part 2

Archaeologists have discovered the tomb of Thutmose II, the first royal tomb found in Egypt since King Tut’s tomb in 1922.

A previously unknown pyramid from circa 2000 BC was discovered by quarry workers in the Dahshur area.

“A devastating new report reveals the extent of destruction in Syria’s legendary city of Palmyra, where eight out of ten buildings now lie in ruins or on the verge of collapse.”

James Gold explains his work as an archaeological illustrator and why it is important.

Carl Rasmussen has posted photos from Yesemek, the largest stone masonry workshop in the ancient Near East.

“Lead pollution in ancient Rome was so high that it dropped the population’s IQ by around 3 points, if not more.”

“Malta is home to some of the oldest and arguably most mysterious megalithic structures known to man, older than the Pyramids and Stonehenge.”

Archaeology Magazine has published a well-illustrated story about the restoration of the Temple of Knum in Esna.

Kara Cooney explains when it is OK to recycle an ancient Egyptian coffin.

Zoom lecture on March 5: “Why is Alexander on the Alexander Sarcophagus? Rethinking a Funerary Monument from Sidon,” by Jessica Nitschke

Hybrid lecture on March 13: “The Amman Citadel in Light of Recent Archaeological Work,” by Katharina Schmidt

Bible Archaeology Report has posted an archaeological biography of Merodach-Baladan, the king of Babylon during the days of Hezekiah.

Correction: The notice last week about a third bridge being discovered in Jerash was a false report caused by a local reporter’s misunderstanding. There are only two bridges.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Gordon Franz, Keith Keyser

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Weekend Roundup, Part 1

In the second season of excavations at Hyrcania in the Judean wilderness, archaeologists uncovered a colorful Byzantine mosaic and two Jewish ritual baths.

A tourist who came to Shiloh to pray for a child found a rare Second Temple period coin when he returned to give thanks.

The discovery at a Byzantine monastery near Jerusalem of a female skeleton wrapped in heavy metal chains is raising questions about women’s participation in extreme asceticism.

Ferrell Jenkins has posted a photo of Gibeah of Saul from circa 1970.

New release: After the Tomb: The Unexpected Encore, by Stephen Austin. In a series of 50 vignettes, this book imagines what may have happened in the 50 days between Jesus’s resurrection and Pentecost. My first impression is very positive.

New release: Scribal Representations and Social Landscapes of the Iron Age, by Mahri Leonard-Fleckman (Oxford University Press, $99)

A conference on the archaeology and history of Jerusalem will be held at the Schloss Beugen in Rheinfelden, Germany, on April 27th to 29th, 2025. Aren Maeir has posted the schedule.

Accordance Bible Software is running a sale of up to 67% off image collections, virtual tours, biblical atlases, and more. There are a number of offerings that are the lowest prices I’ve ever seen.

Behind the Scenes of the New Testament, edited by Bruce W. Longenecker, Elizabeth E. Shively, and T. J. Lang, is Walking The Text’s recommended resource this month.

Gesher Media has just released an Ark of the Covenant poster. Regularly priced at $34, you can use coupon ARK20 to get it for only $20 through February 28.

HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Gordon Franz, Keith Keyser

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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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