Jericho Unearthed

Expedition Bible has just released another brilliant DVD entitled Jericho Unearthed.

The battle of Jericho is one of the most enduring biblical stories.  The description of the “walls falling down” is among its most well-known accounts.   Yet, the most famous excavation of this ancient site, carried out in the 1950’s under the direction of Kathleen Kenyon, claims [...]

‘Oldest’ Image of St Paul, in Rome Catacomb

According to Reuters yesterday, Vatican archaeologists using laser technology in a Catacomb in Rome have discovered what they believe is  the ‘oldest’ image of St Paul, dating as far back as the fourth century AD. This is what the image looks like:

Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, revealing the find on Sunday, published a picture of a frescoed image of the face [...]

Dead Sea Scrolls, What You Need to Know

Holy Post, the National Post’s religion blog,  yesterday posted:  What you need to know about the Dead Sea scrolls.

In the form of a short questions and answers article, Ron Nurwisah writes:

They look like bits of parchment but represent the world’s most significant record of the Old Testament. Since being discovered in 1947, they inspired great scholarship, feuds and [...]

4000 year-old Tomb Uncovered in Bethlehem

Workers renovating a house in Bethlehem, the town of Jesus’ birth, earlier this week  accidentally discovered an untouched ancient tomb containing clay pots, plates, beads and the bones of two humans, a Palestinian antiquities official said Tuesday.  
Yahoo! News reports:  

The 4,000-year-old tomb provides a glimpse of the burial customs of the area’s inhabitants during the Canaanite period, said [...]

Ark of the Covenant to be Revealed

Just to let you know that I am aware of, and have been following,  all the rumours surrounding ‘Abuna Pauolos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church [who] was in Rome this week to meet with Pope Benedict XVI. While there, he told reporters that the time had come to reveal before the world the Holy Ark. [...]

Cave Near Jericho Uncovered, A Roman Quarry

Well things are never quiet in the world of Biblical archaeology for long!  The Jerusalem Post has announced that the ‘largest cave ever found in Israel has been uncovered near the West Bank city of Jericho etched with Christian symbols, an Israeli archeologist said Sunday’. The site is located about 4 km north of the of Jericho, and was [...]

‘Phoenicia’, The Phoenician Ship Expedition

The Phoenicia Expedition, is an expedition that is attempting to re-trace the circumnavigation of Africa, a feat accomplished by Phoenician mariners in 600 BC. It will be done  in a replica Phoenician/Mediterranean vessel  which has been dubbed ‘Phoenicia’.

From their website is the following:

The journey will be long…
The challenges will be great…
But the rewards will be inspiring & [...]

Associates for Biblical Research (Vol. 9, Issue 6 | June 2009)

This month’s newsletter of Associates for Biblical Research (Vol. 9, Issue 6 | June 2009) is out. The main focus is obviously the Reports from the Khirbet el-Maqatir Excavations, their current dig, with 21 ABR staff members and volunteers involved under the directorship of Dr Bryant G. Wood. This site is thought to be the Biblical Ai, which [...]

Aqueduct to the Sultan’s Pool

A recent excavation has revealed just how the Sultan’s pool was filled with water.

The Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered the main aqueduct that conveyed water to the Sultan’s Pool during an excavation prior to the construction of the Montefiore Museum in Mishkenot Sha’ananim by the Jerusalem Foundation. The ancient aqueduct supplied pilgrims and residents with water [...]

ASOR 2009 Annual Meeting

The American Schools of Oriental Research annual meeting, which is the focal point of their year, will take place from 18-21 November 2009 at the LA—Astor Crowne Hotel in New Orleans USA. Professional membership in ASOR is a prerequisite for participation in the Annual Meeting. They have also issued a Call for Papers.
A preregistration form is available both in pdf and [...]

Faking the History of Jesus? – James Ossuary Trial Ongoing

The case has been dragging on and now, after almost five years, the Tel Aviv antiquities collector Oded Golan is still pretty confident he will be acquitted of all charges regarding the forging of the James Ossuary. In fact, according to the The Jerusalem Post, ‘he is confident that new scientific evidence will prove that he [...]