Rome’s ongoing subway system project has uncovered several glimpses of the past, this time the ruins of a Roman military commander’s 14-room luxury villa. ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives has a report on the current status of the Ain Dara Temple. Authorities caught tomb raiders in Galilee as they used a bulldozer to loot graves from the Roman period. 3D computational geometry is being used in a long-distance virtual reconstruction to piece together ancient cuneiform texts. Christopher Rollston is on the OnScript Podcast speaking about the Isaiah seal impression. The Digital Archive for the Study of pre-Islamic Arabian Inscriptions “seeks to gather all known pre-Islamic Arabian epigraphic material into a comprehensive online database, with the aim to make available to specialists and to the broader public a wide array of documents often underestimated because of their difficulty of access.” A proposed restructuring at University College London may have adverse effects on the Petrie Museum. You can learn how to help here. Bible Gateway has published an interview with Lois Tverberg about her new book, Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus. On sale for Kindle: Provan, Long, and Longman, A Biblical History of Israel ($3.99). Accordance has a big sale going on now on atlases and related resources. The Satellite Bible Atlas is now available on Accordance, and it too is on sale (40% off) until March 12. BAS is offering subscriptions to its video lecture service for 75% off for a limited time. David Z. Moster’s latest video explains how to use the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Wayne Stiles shares some new video footage shot over biblical Joppa. The LMLK Blogspot links to a new video of aerial footage of Hebron. HT: Ted Weis, Agade, Charles Savelle, Mark Hoffman
A headless statue of Aphrodite and a large mosaic were discovered during subway construction in Thessaloniki.
“Researchers have discovered the oldest figurative tattoos in the world on the upper arms of two ancient Egyptian mummies, the British Museum said.”
Iraqi authorities discovered 75 artifacts near the Shrine of the Prophet Abraham after a torrential rain.
Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities Newsletter for January 2018 has been published.
Rome was covered by a rare snowfall this week. Photos here.
The Frist Center in Nashville is hosting over 200 objects from the Roman Empire, courtesy of the British Museum.
Four Persian kings are buried in the necropolis of Naqsh-e Rustam, including Darius I.
A rare 2nd-3rd century AD Roman ivory relief of Greek mythology is for sale.
A Hungarian pilot has flown his stunt plane through the Corinth Canal.
Wayne Stiles explains how your mind is like an archaeological dig.
HT: Agade, Charles Savelle, Joseph Lauer, Ted Weis, Paul Mitchell, Mark Hoffman
- Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Excavations, Greece, Italy, Mesopotamia, Museums, Weather, Weekend Roundup
The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities has posted a “Special Edition” of their Newsletter, featuring a list of archaeological discoveries, openings (and re-openings), major projects, temporary exhibitions, repatriated antiquities, changes to archaeological services (including photography fees and student discounts), publications, conferences, and more.
Archaeological work has revealed a fortress at Tell el-Maskhuta in the eastern Nile Delta.
Al-Ahram Weekly reviews the 30 top discoveries made in Egypt in 2017.
“Researchers in London have developed scanning techniques that show what is written on the papyrus that mummy cases are made from.”
The Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, edited by Kathryn A. Bard (Routledge, 1999) is now online for free download.
Archaeologists working at Perga in Turkey plan to restore two towers, water fountains, the theater, and the stadium by 2019.
Turkey will resume issuing visas to American tourists after stopping for several months.
Pompeii has opened three restored Roman houses to visitors.
Scholars are using a fine-detail CT scanner to attempt to read a codex of Acts that dates to the 5th or 6th centuries.
At ANE Today: “A Proper Answer: Reflections on Archaeology, Archaeologists and Biblical
Historiography,” by Israel Finkelstein.
For purchase or free download: Highlights of the Collections of the Oriental Institute Museum, edited by Jean M. Evans, Jack Green, and Emily Teeter.
If you’re not a subscriber to ARTIFAX Magazine (in print), you can sign up here.
Lois Tverberg’s Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus is out.
HT: Agade, Joseph Lauer, Keith Keyser
- Tagged Discoveries, Egypt, Excavations, Italy, Resources, Technology, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup
The first-ever issue of Biblical Archaeology Review without Hershel Shanks at the helm has been published. This annual excavation issue also includes articles on an ancient Jerusalem trash dump, Canaanite art at Hazor, and the Ketef Hinnom silver amulets.
Carl Rasmussen explains Paul’s walk from Troas to Assos with photos and a map.
A writer for The New York Times describes his visit to Alexandria.
A study shows that black ink from Egyptian papyri contains copper.
The Egyptian government is working on a bill to increase the penalty for smuggling antiquities to life imprisonment.
Police in Turkey have recovered over 26,000 artifacts from a smuggling ring in Istanbul.
The German Protestant Institute of Archaeology in the Holy Land (GPIA) has launched a new website for its project DOJAM – Documentation of Objects in Jordanian Archaeological Museums.
The winter issue of the Oriental Institute’s News & Notes is online.
The ancients used meteoritic material in the forging of daggers, axes, and jewelry.
Rome will begin charging tourists to visit the Pantheon.
The New York Metropolitan Museum purchased a 14th-century illuminated Hebrew Bible before it was to be auctioned by Sotheby’s.
How did the 1917 Jerusalem surrender flag end up in Ohio?
William Dever, Carol Meyers, and Israel Finkelstein were among those receiving awards at the 2017 ASOR Annual Meeting.
LiveScience suggests some major finds in biblical archaeology in 2017.
Merry Christmas!
HT: Ted Weis, Joseph Lauer, Agade
- Tagged Antiquities Trade, Discoveries, Egypt, Italy, Jordan, Museums, Technology, Tourism, Turkey, Weekend Roundup
Underwater excavations of Corinth’s harbor at the port of Lechaion have exposed five-ton stone blocks and a perfectly preserved wooden post. This article has lots of illustrations. A 2-minute video takes you there.
The New York Times reports on the numerous ancient finds from Rome’s ongoing subway project.
Archaeologists have been excavating a large Byzantine church complex near Beth Shemesh.
Excavations have revealed that the population of Shiloh switched from Gentile to Jewish following the Maccabean Revolt.
New excavations have revealed a Hasmonean-era settlement at Susiya near Hebron.
Israel’s Culture Minister is initiating a $70 million plan to uncover, preserve, and develop historical sites in Jerusalem and vicinity.
The Israeli government has approved funding for a hiking trail through the West Bank and Golan Heights.
“The ancient city of Hazor in the Galilee seems to have muscled its way to fame and fortune partly by developing a unique business in farming sheep, instead of goats like everyone else in Canaan 3,700 years ago.”
Recent excavations at Jericho show a close relationship between the city and Egypt.
Archaeologists have traced the history of a menorah relief in various buildings in Tiberias.
A young girl discovered a Hasmonean-period oil lamp in a porcupines’ den near Beth Shean.
Elsewhere antiquities thieves denied their activities by claiming that they were “just hunting porcupines.”
New book, with free ebook download: Finding Jerusalem: Archaeology between Science and Ideology, by Katharina Galor.
Cuneiform cookies are all the rage this Christmas. This video will teach you how to bake Ugaritic
Tablet Biscuits.
HT: Ted Weis, Joseph Lauer, Agade, Mark Hoffman, Charles Savelle, Explorator, Chris McKinny,
Mike Harney
- Tagged Discoveries, Excavations, Galilee, Golan, Greece, Italy, Jerusalem, Jordan Rift, Judah, Resources, Samaria, Shephelah, Tourism, Weekend Roundup
Archaeologists have excavated an Edomite/Idumean temple in a live-fire zone near Lachish that they first identified using drones. High-res photos and a video are available here.
An ancient gymnasium with well-preserved mosaics has been discovered near biblical Iconium (modern Konya) in Turkey. (References that suggest it was near the Laodicea mentioned in
Revelation are apparently incorrect.) For more photos, see this article in the Turkish press.
Scholars have identified the first-known Greek copy of the Apocalypse of James.
Owen Jarus corrects some misinformation about the “castle” recently “discovered” under the waters of Lake Van.
You can learn more about pigeons and ancient dovecotes from Jennifer Ramsay’s article at the ASOR Blog.
Turkish authorities have arrested four men who tried to sell an ancient Torah manuscript.
Indiana Joan, a real-life tomb raider, is 95 years old and lives in Western Australia.
Carl Rasmussen explains how the Altar of Augustan Peace (Ara Pacis) illustrates an aspect of “the fulness of time” when God sent his Son.
The First Days of Jesus, by Andreas J. Kostenberger and Alexander Stewart, is for sale for Kindle for $2.99.
The second edition of the NET Bible has been released. Print copies are available here. In an act of remarkable transparency (and courage!), they have posted a complete list of changes.
R. Steven Notley (Nyack College) will be lecturing on “Geography, Christianity and the History of
Second Temple Judaism” at the Yeshiva University on Wednesday, December 6th, 6:45-7:45pm in the Furst Hall Room 308, 500 W 185th St, NYC.
The New York Times reviews the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Chanan Tigay describes his worldwide hunt to unravel the mystery of Moshe Shapiro’s “Dead Sea Scrolls.”
Now open: The Jordan Trail runs from Gadara (Um Qais) in the north to Aqaba in the south. The official website includes downloadable maps and GPX files. Here’s a fun video on hiking the trail by Epic Trails.
HT: Charles Savelle, Agade, Joseph Lauer, Bill Schlegel, Mike Harney, Wayne Stiles, A.D. Riddle
- Tagged Antiquities Trade, Discoveries, Excavations, Italy, Lectures, Resources, Shephelah, Turkey, Weekend Roundup
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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