Biblical Archaeology News & Opinion
There is so much news in the world of Biblical archaeology and the Holy Land, it is hard to keep up! That is why we offer the latest news from the lands of the Bible that will interest you the most.
Medicine in the Ancient World
Life in the ancient world was risky business. The perils of war, disease, famine and childbirth are a just a few examples of circumstances that contributed to a much lower average lifespan in the ancient world than we have in the modern era. People in antiquity were no less concerned ...
When Did Christianity Begin to Spread?
How old is Christianity? When did it stop being a Jewish sect and become its own religion? As reported in “Crossing the Holy Land” in the September/October 2011 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, new archaeological discoveries of churches are crucial to helping answer those questions. But when did Christians begin ...
Haaretz: Tomb with three generations of ‘Amazon’ warrior women found in Russia
Female Scythian warriors have been found before, but this is the first time multiple generations were found buried together – with a golden headdress and other grave goods that thieves missed This post appeared first at https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-tomb-with-three-generations-of-amazon-warrior-women-found-in-russia-1.8327358
Haaretz: On the fourth day of Hanukkah, archaeologists find hoard of Islamic coins in Israel
Coins placed in a clay juglet 1,200 years ago included rare specimens from North Africa and one issued by Caliph Haroun A-Rashid This post appeared first at https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-on-the-fourth-day-of-hanukkah-archaeologists-find-hoard-of-islamic-coins-in-israel-1.8328698
BAS: Graffiti as Devotion
Vandalizing and Disrespectful —that’s how we typically perceive graffiti. Texts or images, these informal marks in public built spaces can express opposition, rebellion, or artistic aspirations. In the ancient world, people made similar graffiti in streets, markets, bathrooms, or theaters. But they also left graffiti in sacred spaces, such as ...
Understanding the Jewish Menorah
The Jewish menorah—especially the Temple menorah, a seven-branched candelabra that stood in the Temple—is the most enduring and iconic Jewish symbol. But what did the Temple menorah actually look like? In early August 2011, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) issued a press release announcing the discovery of “an engraving of the Temple ...
Ancient Roman garum factory found in Israel, suitably far away from town
A small 1st century factory that produced fermented fish sauce — arguably the most desirable foodstuff of the Roman era — was recently uncovered during excavations near the southern coastal Israeli city of Ashkelon. It is one of the only identified industrial sites for production of the ubiquitous odorous sauce ...
When Was Jesus Born—B.C. or A.D.?
In which year was Jesus born? While this is sometimes debated, the majority of New Testament scholars place Jesus’ birth in 4 B.C. or before. This is because most date the death of King Herod the Great to 4 B.C. Since Herod played a major role in the narrative of Jesus’ birth (see Matthew 2), Jesus would have had ...
Bible-era temple found near Jerusalem may be linked to Ark of the Covenant
Archaeologists excavating a 3,100-year-old temple in the ancient settlement of Beth Shemesh, near Jerusalem, have uncovered an unusual stone table that eerily recalls one described in the Bible as playing a role in the story of the Ark of the Covenant. The find could be interpreted many ways, but one possibility ...
Royal Sphinx Statue Unearthed in Tuna El-Gebel
The Egyptian archaeological mission, headed by Sayed Abdel Malek, on Saturday uncovered a small royal statue of a sphinx in Tuna El-Gebel archaeological area in Minya governorate in Upper Egypt. Director-General of the antiquities of Middle Egypt Gamal El-Samastawy said that the statue was made of limestone, adding that it measures ...