Seven inscriptions were discovered in three Byzantine churches excavated in Galilee this summer. Haaretz (premium) also covers the story. Archaeologists have discovered a Hellenistic-era gymnasium in the Fayoum province of Egypt. A recently discovered Assyrian tablet provides the first-known diagnosis to determine infertility. An intact sundial from the Roman period has been discovered in the excavation of a theater near Mount Cassino in Italy. A year-long mysterious excavation with high security in Tarsus ended with no explanation of what they found or why they were excavating. A gemstone discovered in Pylos, Greece, from the 15th century BC is a “masterpiece of miniature art.” Megan Sauter describes the Terra Sancta Museum, a new stop on the Via Dolorosa. Wayne Stiles’s post this week on Lachish includes some new drone video footage he shot recently. The Museum of the Bible is the topic of discussion this week on The Book and the Spade. Israel welcomed its 3 millionth tourist of 2017 this week. A new Biblical Archaeology Review Archive provides every article from 1975 to 2016 and is on sale for $130. Or you can subscribe to All-Access Membership for $35/year. HT: Jared Clark, Agade, Charles Savelle
“Archaeologists in Greece have uncovered rare jewels, coins and other artefacts while excavating tombs near the ruins of the classical city of Corinth dating to between the fourth and first centuries A.D.”
A preliminary report of the 2017 excavation season at Hala Sultan Tekke in Cyprus has been posted.
Participants interested in joining for the 2018 season will receive free accommodations and meals.
Iranian authorities have acted to prevent a gathering at the tomb of Cyrus the Great on the Persian king’s birthday.
Christopher Rollston believes that an erroneous construct form proves that the “Jerusalem Papyrus” is a modern forgery.
Lawrence Schiffman reflects on the history of the Dead Sea Scrolls 70 years after the initial discovery.
Carl Rasmussen shares a video with sounds of a Christian liturgy from the Hagia Sophia (and how they did it).
John DeLancey is posting daily on his current Egypt-Jordan-Israel tour.
BAS is celebrating the retirement of Hershel Shanks with a sale on some of his works.
“What’s So Funny: Discovering and Interpreting Humor in the Ancient World” is the title of a conference to be held in April at The Ohio State University.
You can try Logos 7 Platinum for free now through November 14.
HT: Agade, Ted Weis, Joseph Lauer, Charles Savelle
- Tagged Dead Sea, Excavations, Forgery, Greece, Lectures, Mediterranean Islands, Resources, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup
I am traveling this weekend, and so this edition is shorter than usual. I’ll pick up any stories I missed next weekend.
Solomon’s Pools will be renovated with a $750,000 grant from the US Consulate in Jerusalem with hopes of turning it into a major tourism site.
An ancient inscription may provide contemporary evidence for the migration of the Philistines and other Sea Peoples, if it is authentic.
“Archaeologists have unearthed a 2,000-year-old olive oil mill in the ancient city of Tripolis in southwestern Turkey.”
The latest issue of Biblical Archaeology Review includes the sad news that Hershel Shanks is retiring after 42 years and turning editorship over to Robert Cargill. Shanks is 87.
Accordance Bible Software is running a sale that includes a 25% off any one item deal. You could use it for one of their photo collections, including The American Colony Collection or Views That Have Vanished.
Wayne Stiles explains the relationship between the Pool of Siloam, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Messiah.
“The Dead Sea Scrolls at 70” is the title of a free conference that is being held at New York University on November 16-17. Speakers include Jodi Magness, Lawrence Schiffman, and many others.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is hosting a “Foothills of Judah” Conference on November 13-14. Speakers include Itzhaq Shai, Steven Ortiz, and Chris McKinny.
John DeLancey is blogging his way through his current Greece Tour.
Israel’s Good Name recently visited Sachne (aka “Heaven on earth”) and explored some interesting sites in the area.
On Monday the Israel Antiquities Authority is hosting a press conference to reveal discoveries made in the last two years underneath Wilson’s Arch in the Western Wall Tunnels. I’ll post the story on the blog when I have it.
HT: Ted Weis, Joseph Lauer, Agade
- Tagged Dead Sea, Discoveries, Greece, Holidays, Judah, Lectures, Photo Resources, Shephelah, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup
The Biblical Archaeology Society has announced its 2017 Publication Awards.
Chris McKinny and Itzhaq Shai explain how they have implemented PlanGrid as a digital field registration system at Tel Burna.
New evidence reveals how the Egyptians transported limestone and granite along the Nile River in order to build the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Ferrell Jenkins notes some of the latest books published by Carta.
Josette Elayi writes about “Sargon II, ‘King of the World’” at The Bible and Interpretation.
The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit that has been touring the country goes to Denver in March.
Carl Rasmussen has written two posts this week on the island of Patmos: The Monastery of Saint John and A Fortress on Patmos.
“Staircases, richly decorated walls and important artifacts are among the findings of this past season’s excavations at the extensive and complex Minoan palace of Zominthos.”
The Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project has found 60 ancient ships, dating from 4 B.C. to the 8th A.D., with many of them well preserved because of the anoxic conditions at the bottom of the ocean.
The Bryn Mawr Classical Review reviews Graffiti from the Basilica in the Agora of Smyrna.
The Vatican will analyze bones allegedly from St Peter that were discovered in the Church of Santa Maria in Capella in Rome.
HT: Charles Savelle, Agade, Ted Weis
- Tagged Greece, Italy, Mesopotamia, Museums, Resources, Turkey, Weekend Roundup
Israel’s Tourism Ministry has approved construction of 4-mile-long cable car line connecting Upper Nazareth and the lower slopes of Mount Tabor.
Tomb raiders have vandalized the Judean desert fortress of Hyrcania.
Reader’s Digest suggests 10 sites (mostly eateries) to visit in Israel that you (probably) have never heard of before.
Leave it to Wayne Stiles to figure out a way to make good use of my photos of Horeshat Tal (and make an important application).
“All the stone inscriptions from ancient Athens in UK collections are to be presented in English translations for the first time, thanks to a new project undertaken by Cardiff University.”
The Times of Israel reports on Lawrence Mykytiuk’s study that confirms the historical existence of 53 individuals mentioned in the Old Testament.
Steven Notley will be lecturing on “Unearthing Bethsaida-Julias: Has the City of the Apostles been Found?” at Nyack College on September 28.
Aren Maeir has posted the schedule for the 11th annual conference on “New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and Its Region,” to be held Oct 18-20.
Charles E. Jones’s “Working Bibliography of Autobiographies” continues to grow.
Bible Story Map has released a new resource: Bible Story Places, a series of 12 posters of sites including Jericho, Valley of Elah, Mt. Sinai, and the Sea of Galilee.
Archaeologists working near biblical Aphek have discovered a large water reservoir dating to about the time of King Hezekiah. The press release includes a one-minute video.
They found Roman remains at el-Araj, a candidate for New Testament Bethsaida. Here’s a photo of some of the Roman mosaic floor.
The third week of the excavations of Gath has ended, and they found an inscription.
Chris McKinny summarizes the results of the third week at Tel Burna. And if you missed the second week review, you can find it here.
The Temple Mount Sifting Project has discovered a Doric capital dating to the 2nd century BC.
The Times of Israel profiles ABR’s new excavation project at Shiloh.
The Greek Orthodox Church has sold the amphitheater and hippodrome of Caesarea in a secretive manner that raises lots of questions.
Archaeologists have found 8 more ancient shipwrecks off the coast of Greece, bringing the total number now discovered there to 53.
“Egyptologists have discovered what they believe is the burial chamber of Ankhesenamun, Tutankhamun’s wife.”
Here are five surprising inventions of ancient Rome, including luxury cruise ships.
Ferrell Jenkins shares his experience and photos with camel caravans in the Sinai.
John MacDermot will lecture on “Olga Tufnell – The Life of a Petrie Pup” at the British Academy in
London on September 20.
Recent Shroud of Turin Research is the top of this week’s edition of The Book and the Spade.
I thought the Kindle sale for Eric Cline’s Three Stones Make a Wall: The Story of Archaeology was for one day only, but the $1.99 deal was still good the last time I checked.
HT: Carl Rasmussen, Charles Savelle, Joseph Lauer, Agade, Mike Harney
- Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Excavations, Galilee, Greece, Israel's Coast, Jerusalem, Samaria, Shephelah, Temple Mount, Weekend Roundup
