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The Latest at Biblical Studies and Tech Tools

If you haven’t checked his blog lately, Mark G. V. Hoffman has several helpful posts at Biblical Studies and Technological Tools.

You might start with 2009 Review of Biblical Studies and Tech Tools. I’d like to see a certain new collection of photos included in that list, but I suppose that it’s just a tad bit outside the realm of materials considered. Then take a look at Looking Ahead in 2010, where he considers the future with regard to mobile devices, the cloud, as well as the major software options. Separately, he has written the first part of a review of Glo.

I certainly appreciate all the work that Mark puts into his blog and websites in helping the rest of us to make the most of the resources available.

Tagged Resources

Qeiyafa Ostracon Update

There was some news this month regarding the Qeiyafa Ostracon. I previously posted the new reading by Gershon Galil. That was criticized by some, including Christopher Rollston who has some good thoughts on his blog. The Khirbet Qeiyafa team has attacked Galil in an open letter for ethical concerns as well as problems of scholarship and “scientific methodology.”

Gordon Govier interviewed a number of scholars about the ostracon in an article for Christianity Today. Govier also interviewed Seth Sanders and Chris Rollston for the radio program, The Book and the Spade (also online temporarily as #1210 and #1211).

The Mormon Times has an article that summarizes the latest, with input from BYU professor Jeffrey R. Chadwick.

The Khirbet Qeiyafa website has been updated with new photographs and drawings of the ostracon (and page two here).

An article has just been published (and posted online in pdf format) in PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology by Gregory Bearman & William A. Christens-Barry entitled “Spectral Imaging of Ostraca.” The article includes several photos of the Qeiyafa Ostracon.

Tagged Shephelah

Thursday Roundup

I continue to catch up on stories from earlier this month.

A building from the Neolithic period has been discovered in Tel Aviv.

Scholars in the British Museum discovered a couple of fragments similar to the Cyrus Cylinder in their collection. Iran is upset that this will delay the promised loan of the artifact.

Abu Gosh decided it wanted to take the world record for the largest hummus dish ever made. I drove by the restaurant a day after the big event and thus missed the opportunity to sample part of the 8,000 pounds of hummus, but I did see the satellite receiver in which the dish was served.

If you’re looking for a more academic trip of Turkey, I’d recommend this BAS tour led by Mark Wilson.

The sad state of the “Sanhedrin Tombs” in Jerusalem is reported in an article in Haaretz.

Two-Columned Tomb in Sanhedria neighborhood of Jerusalem

HT: Joe Lauer

Tagged Weekend Roundup

Jaffa Gate Excavations

One of the items on my list for this blog was some new photos of the renovations at Jaffa Gate. Tom Powers has beat me to it, however, and done a much better job. He has a number of high-resolution photographs, along with explanations of what you’re seeing (as best as can be determined by an outsider). I have heard through the grapevine that the archaeologists uncovered both ancient and modern aqueducts as well. This makes sense given the location of Jaffa Gate and the nearby presence of the Towers/Hezekiah’s Pool.

Read the post on his Tom’s new blog and subscribe to future posts using the RSS feed.

Jaffa Gate area with excavations underway
Photo taken January 3, 2010

Tagged Jerusalem

360 Degree Views in Jerusalem

360 degree views in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – if you didn’t want to stand in the long line to enter the tomb, this gives you a perfect view without the crowds, noise, or fragrances.

360 degree views in the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque – if you’re not Muslim, you can’t stand in a line long enough. One other 360 degree view is the Western Wall, but these photos are less unique. The entry point to all three sites is here.

Line to enter tomb at Church of Holy Sepulcher, earlier this month. One tour guide estimated the wait time to be two hours.

Tagged Jerusalem, Tourism

Tuesday Roundup

Ynetnews has a story on renovations of David’s Tomb on Mount Zion.

Leen Ritmeyer’s recent lecture on how he identified the location of Solomon’s Temple is recounted in a story in the Baptist Press.

A sarcophagus cover with a Medusa decoration is the now on display at Caesarea. The IAA press release (temporary link) also has some high-resolution images (direct link).

A hoard of 1,300 silver coins apparently from the Hellenistic period have been discovered in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, announced the Hamas-run “ministry of tourism and antiquities.”

The Museum of Tolerance to be built in the Mamilla neighborhood of Jerusalem will be half the size of the original plan because of reduced sources of funding. Plaintiffs who filed suit against the
construction have lost their case and been fined by the court.

I’ve had little time this month for noting the latest stories. As time permits, I’ll continue to try to catch up.

HT: Joe Lauer and Paleojudaica

Tagged Jerusalem, Weekend Roundup