Dr Robert Cargill, ‘The Fortress at Qumran: A History of Interpretation’

I found the essay on The Fortress at Qumran: A History of Interpretation by Dr Robert R Cargill of the UCLA and the Qumran Visualization Project which  appears posted on The Bible and Interpretation website this month most stimulating.
Here is the abstract:

Recent research into the archaeology of Khirbet Qumran, the site associated with the discovery of the Dead [...]

Atlit-Yam, A Submerged Pre-Pottery Neolithic Villiage

The completely submerged late Pre-Pottery Neolithic (6900 - 6300 BC) village of Atlit-Yam has been making news with a Jerusalem Post article this week. Discovered just 400 meter off  the coast of Atlit by  Israel Antiquities Authority’s marine archaeologist, Dr Ehud Galili, the 9,000 year old site lies about 10 kilometers south of Haifa. It covers an area of 40,000 square meters and [...]

Rehydroxylation – A New Way of Dating Archaeological Objects

Scientists from the Universities of Edinburgh and Manchester have developed a new technique called rehydroxylation that will be able to help accurately date ceramics.  The BBC News reports that:

“Fired clay ceramics start to react chemically with atmospheric moisture as soon as it is removed from the kiln. Researchers believe they can pinpoint the precise age of materials [...]

What If Anything, Can Archaeology Say About The Ascension?

Jesus and a few close followers were gathered together. According to the Biblical narrative, it has been forty days (Ac 1:3) since the greatest miracle the world has ever known… His leaving behind a rocky tomb, having had overcome the very clutches of death itself. Luke picks up the story:
‘So when they met together, they [...]

Seal of ‘Saul’ Found

A bone seal with the Biblical name ‘Saul’ (Shaul) inscribed on it has been found outside Jerusalem’s old city wall during the ongoing excavations there. It was put on display for the first time yesterday. Now while we immediately recognise the name Saul, and most often associate it with the first King of Israel, the name is however admittedly, a [...]

Sodom Found?

A group of archaeologists under the leadership of Dr Steven Collins of Trinity Southwest University in Albuquerque, New Mexico, believe that they have uncovered the exact location of the Biblical city of Sodom (again). In the report, Dr Collins is quoted as saying:

“From a biblical point of view, this is arguably the most important archaeological excavation of all time…”

This is indeed [...]

The Book and The Spade

The Book & the Spade is ‘a weekly news and interview program focusing on the latest discoveries and developments in Biblical Archaeology, hosted by Gordon Govier and professor Keith Schoville’. They have been on the go since 1983…

The site can be visited by clicking on the pic above or here. The latest programmes can usually be [...]

Jesus Trail

Pope Benedict XVI is well on his week long tour of the Holy Land (the Israel Ministry of Tourism set up a website in this regard which can be viewed here).

In the wake of his visit to Nazareth today, the so-called “Jesus Trail” is being inaugurated. Yesterday  The Jerusalem Post reported that, 

The 65-kilometer “Jesus trail,” which begins in the [...]

Biblical Archaeology Review

BAR 35:03, May/Jun 2009 is out…

Two articles are particularly interesting this month. The first is the cover story by Amos Frumkin that looks at How Lot’s Wife Became a Pillar of Salt. It begins as follows: 

Abraham famously argued with God about his decision to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah: “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” [...]

eBay and Looting

This is slightly off Near Eastern Archaeology - but certainly considered to have had the potential to affect this part  of  the world as well - was the effect that eBay was predicted to have on looting when it was originally launched. Most people reckoned that it would provide an easy route for the disposal of / sale of illegal antiquities. Apparently now, the opposite [...]

Stolen Papyrus Document Recovered

About a month ago I posted a piece on looting - an ongoing problem - and the damaging effect that it is having particularly as it pertains to the testing of the authenticity of the artifact looted. Well looting is again in the spotlight and the point is further established with  undercover  Israeli police officials having nabbed  two Palestinian men yesterday, who tried to [...]