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
“The ancient city of Ephesus . . . is set to once again have a harbor on the Aegean coast, according to an ambitious new project.”
Archaeologists working at Saqqara in Egypt have discovered a portion of a large obelisk from the Old Kingdom period.
The rulers of Gaza are systematically destroying one of the earliest archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip.
“There is a growing emerging consensus among Dead Sea Scroll scholars that many of the fragments in the private collections are fakes.”
Atlas Obscura has a brief, illustrated article on the Tophet of Carthage.
“A Dartmouth-led study has demonstrated how the latest aerial thermal imagery is transforming archaeology due to advancements in technology.”
Yeshiva University Museum is hosting an international conference on “The Arch of Titus – from Jerusalem to Rome, and Back.”
Prior to its opening in November, the Museum of the Bible will be hosting a scholarly panel to “discuss evolutionary process for developing content” as well as addressing questions about disputed artifacts in their collection.
Yale students are “touring” Nimrud before it was destroyed via a new VR system. The story includes a 4-minute video.
A new free MOOC from Bar Ilan University on “The Bible in Light of the Ancient Near East” begins later this month. Some video previews are available: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5.
Israel’s Good Name reports on his recent visit to Apollonia (Arsuf).
Kenneth Holum, whose work included directing excavations of Caesarea, died last month.
HT: Paleojudaica, Joseph Lauer, Agade
- Tagged Egypt, Israel's Coast, Italy, Lectures, Mesopotamia, Technology, 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
The biblical Feast of Trumpets, usually observed now as the Jewish New Year, was celebrated on Thursday. Ferrell Jenkins shares some photos of the ram’s horn.
With the ending of year 5777, the Temple Mount Sifting Project identifies the “top 10 topics” over the past year.
Ferrell Jenkins explains how Dr. James Turner Barclay is honored in the Cathedral of St. George in Jerusalem.
Israel’s Good Name describes his experience on the Horvat Midras excavation.
The re-dating of the Gihon Spring fortifications is the topic on this week’s edition of The Book and the Spade.
The latest issue of Tel Aviv includes an article on the “Monumentality of Iron Age Jerusalem Prior to the 8th Century BCE.”
There have been a number of wolf attacks in the Judean wilderness in recent months. The article includes a video of a wolf chasing a young ibex.
“Dr. Scott Stripling and Dr. Craig Evans headline the upcoming Text and Trowel symposium on archaeology and the Bible at the University of Pikeville on Oct. 20-21, 2017.”
HT: Agade
- Tagged Excavations, Holidays, Italy, Jerusalem, Judah, Lectures, New Exhibits, Shephelah, Temple Mount, Weekend Roundup
Haaretz reports on Steven Fine’s study that the reliefs of the Arch of Titus were originally painted in full color.
“The Arch of Titus – From Jerusalem to Rome and Back” is a new exhibition opening this week at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan.
Have scientists discovered the body of Pliny the Elder?
Scientists at a university in Rome have determined what causes ancient parchments to develop purple spots and deteriorate. The journal article is here.
Mark Hoffman has created a list of free online Bible resource sites and downloadable Bible apps and programs.
Carl Rasmussen explains that the apostle Paul visited the area of modern Albania, probably on the Via Egnatia.
The Biblical Archaeology Society has a new streaming video site, with a 75%-off introductory offer.
The deadlines are approaching for many funded fellowships at the Albright Institute in Jerusalem.
Letters from Baghdad will be screened at the Oriental Institute Museum in Chicago on October 11.
The event is free, but registration is required.
Now free (pdf): The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago
Now free (pdf): The City of Ebla: A Complete Bibliography of Its Archaeological and Textual Remains. (Click the small pdf icon to download).
Early reviews of Lois Tverberg’s forthcoming book are very positive, including my own.
HT: Joseph Lauer, Agade
- Tagged Italy, Mesopotamia, Movies, Resources, Syria, Technology, Weekend Roundup
A first-century AD tomb in Irbid, Jordan, will open to the public next month. The unique tomb contains oil paintings, transcriptions, and drawings.
A Hellenistic temple and network of water tunnels has been uncovered at Gadara.
An analysis of a water pipe from Pompeii suggest that the Romans probably experienced daily problems with vomiting and diarrhea, as well as liver and kidney damage. The problem wasn’t lead, but the acutely toxic antimony. Cf. 1 Timothy 5:23.
The latest issue of Biblical Archaeology Review has a number of articles of interest, including the capital city of Samaria, Hebrew on Herod’s time, and NT figures known outside the Bible.
The William Kelly Simpson Memorial Colloquium will be held at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History on October 7.
The Israel Exploration Society is having a clearance sale for all final reports of the Masada excavations. Each of the 8 volumes is reduced to $30 plus shipping.
Among the resources for Accordance on sale now is the three-volume Archaeology of the Land of the Bible series (by Mazar, Stern, Meyers, and Chancey).
GTI Study Tours is a unique travel agency that I’ve heard rave reviews about. They are offering a highly-discounted “Pastors and Christian Educators” Study Tour of Turkey in February with Mark Strauss.
HT: Agade, Chris McKinny, Joseph Lauer
