Archeology

[phkrause]

Herculaneum Scrolls Reveal New Secrets

The Herculaneum scrolls may be one of the most important sources of information on the ancient world ever discovered, yet they are practically unreadable, having been charred by the fires and ash of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE. That may no longer be a problem, thanks to the ingenious work of a 21-year-old computer science student from the University of Nebraska, Luke Farritor. Answering the call of the Vesuvius Challenge—a million-dollar competition to read the scrolls—Farritor became the first person to identify a full word within the nearly 2,000-year-old charred scrolls.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/herculaneum-scrolls-reveal-new-secrets/?

[phkrause]

A Jewish Curse Text from Elephantine

Evidence of Yahweh worship from Late Period Egypt

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-egypt/a-jewish-curse-text-from-elephantine/?

[phkrause]

Lamassu from Dur-Sharrukin Revealed

A joint Iraqi-French excavation at the ancient site of Dur-Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad in northern Iraq) has uncovered an imposing Lamassu statue. The massive statue dates to the reign of Sargon II (r. 722–705 BCE), who built the city of Dur-Sharrukin (Akkadian for “the fortress of Sargon”) and made it the capital of the growing Neo-Assyrian Empire.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/dur-sharrukin_lamassu/?

[phkrause]

I spy with my Cold War satellite eye… nearly 400 Roman forts in the Middle East

Anthropologists suggest forts were built to secure key trade routes through the region.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/10/i-spy-with-my-cold-war-satellite-eye-nearly-400-roman-forts-in-the-middle-east/?

[phkrause]

How to Spot a Biblical Fake

Think this image of an ancient goddess looks genuine? Think again!

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/how-to-spot-a-biblical-fake/?

[phkrause]

Moroccan archaeologists unearth new ruins at Chellah, a tourism-friendly ancient port near Rabat

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Archaeologists have unearthed more ancient ruins of what they believe was once a bustling port city near the capital of modern-day Morocco, digging out thermal baths and working class neighborhoods that the country hopes will lure tourists and scholars in the years ahead.

https://apnews.com/article/morocco-tourism-ancient-ruins-chellah-d736a7005f971c3867a1a6bca6c90818

[phkrause]

Tens of thousands of ancient coins have been found off Sardinia. They may be spoils of a shipwreck

ROME (AP) — A diver who spotted something metallic not far from Sardinia’s coast has led to the discovery of tens of thousands of ancient bronze coins.

https://apnews.com/article/italy-ancient-coins-sardinia-divers-cabdfa070d37a8020f874dd90c0a2433?

[phkrause]

Hundreds of Roman Forts Identified in Syria and Iraq

Satellite images rewrite history of Rome’s eastern border

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-rome/roman-forts-in-syria-and-iraq/?

[phkrause]

The Aleppo Codex

 

The mystery of the missing pages in the oldest Hebrew Bible

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/hebrew-bible/the-aleppo-codex/?

[phkrause]

Mummified baboons point to the direction of the fabled land of Punt

One of the most enduring mysteries within archaeology revolves around the identity of Punt, an otherworldly “land of plenty” revered by the ancient Egyptians. Punt had it all—fragrant myrrh and frankincense, precious electrum (a mixed alloy of gold and silver) and malachite, and coveted leopard skins, among other exotic luxury goods.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/11/mummified-baboons-point-to-the-direction-of-the-fabled-land-of-punt/

[phkrause]

China's River of Gold

Excavations in Sichuan Province reveal the lost treasure of an infamous seventeenth-century warlord

https://www.archaeology.org/issues/530-2311/features/11799-china-jiangkou-ming-dynasty?

[phkrause]

Hook, Line, and Sinker: Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet Debunked?

Initially hailed by its discoverers as “the most ancient Hebrew inscription ever found,” the controversial Mt. Ebal curse tablet may be no more than a common fishing weight. At least that is the suggestion of archaeologist Amihai Mazar, who published his interpretation of the artifact in the Israel Exploration Journal, alongside two other articles skeptical of the discoverers’ claims.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/mt_ebal_curse_tablet_debunked/?

[phkrause]

Roof Tiles and Hellenistic Jerusalem

Archaeological evidence of Hellenistic Jerusalem is sparse, especially for the final years of the reign of the Seleucids (c. second century BCE). However, a new discovery in the City of David has revealed an intriguing part of the city’s architectural and political history from this time: six unassuming roof tiles that might just point the way to the infamous Acra fortress, a major feature in the story of Hanukkah.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/hellenistic_jerusalem_roof_tiles/?

[phkrause]

Jerusalem’s Iron Age Moat Discovered

Excavations in the City of David have revealed a fascinating feature of Iron Age Jerusalem’s urban landscape—a massive rock-cut moat. Separating the northern and southern ridges of ancient Jerusalem, the moat would have drastically altered the natural terrain, but its exact purpose is still unknown. Indeed, while the moat’s existence answers some questions, it raises others.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/jerusalems-iron-age-moat-discovered/?

[8thdaypriest]

On 12/4/2023 at 8:16 PM, phkrause said:

Hook, Line, and Sinker: Mt. Ebal Curse Tablet Debunked?

Initially hailed by its discoverers as “the most ancient Hebrew inscription ever found,” the controversial Mt. Ebal curse tablet may be no more than a common fishing weight. At least that is the suggestion of archaeologist Amihai Mazar, who published his interpretation of the artifact in the Israel Exploration Journal, alongside two other articles skeptical of the discoverers’ claims.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/mt_ebal_curse_tablet_debunked/?

Why would a "fishing weight" have been thrown at the base of Joshua's alter on Mount Ebal (the Mount of Curing), across the valley from Mount Gerizem (the Mount of Blessing).   (See Joshua 8:30-35)

From an article by Zvi Koenigsberg on thetorah.com

"But why was the cultic area on Mount Ebal decommissioned?

Replacing Ebal with Shiloh
The books of Judges and Samuel, which tell the stories of the Israelites in the pre-Monarchic and early Monarchic period, before the building of the Jerusalem Temple, never mention Ebal and its altar. Instead, they focus on Shiloh. Judges 18:31, for example, describes a house of God (בית אלהים) at Shiloh, while 1 Samuel 1–4 refer to it as the place where Eli the priest served, and where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.

Both Judges 21 and 1 Samuel 1 describe it as a place of pilgrimage, where Israelites from other parts of land would come on special days to make offerings to YHWH. This tradition appears in other biblical books as well; Psalm 78:60, for instance, refers to an ancient tabernacle of Shiloh.

Shiloh too has been excavated. As noted above, whereas Adam Zertal conducted the survey of the Manasseh hill country, his younger colleague, Israel Finkelstein, conducted the survey of the Ephraim region, just south of Manasseh. He too found a cultic site, in Khirbet Seilun, which he identified with the biblical city of Shiloh, an identification that is generally accepted.

On October 14, 1983, while returning from Ebal to Jerusalem with the late Benjamin Mazar, I suggested we stop at Shiloh and ask Finkelstein what—in his opinion—was the beginning date of the Israelite cultic center there. He answered circa 1150 B.C.E., a date he later published.[21] The book of Judges is replete with stories about serious tension, even battles, between Manasseh and Ephraim. It is hardly coincidental that at the same time as a major cultic site was decommissioned in Manasseh, another one was established in Ephraim.[22]"

Link to whole article:

https://www.thetorah.com/article/joshuas-altar-on-mount-ebal-israels-holy-site-before-shiloh

 

[8thdaypriest]

Most folks do not realize that Shiloh was the location of the Tabernacle for some 300 years.  

Piles of bones have been uncovered there, significantly a large portion of the bones were from the right side of clean (sacrificial) animals.  

The right shoulder, breast and thigh was the contribution offering for the priests, from the peace offering. 

Leviticus 7:32 The right thigh you must give as a contribution offering to the priest from your peace offering sacrifices. (NET)

Leviticus 7:33 The son of Aaron who offers the blood and the fat of the fellowship offering shall have the right thigh as his share.  

Numbers 18:18 "And their flesh shall be yours, just as the wave breast and the right thigh are yours. (NKJ)

[8thdaypriest]

Link to You Tube video on excavations at Shiloh.

 

[phkrause]

3 hours ago, 8thdaypriest said:

Link to You Tube video on excavations at Shiloh.

Thanks, that was really cool! I love reading about archaeology, especially Biblical archaeology!! It just makes the Bible so real.

[phkrause]

The Oasis of Qurayyah

Capital of the fabled land of Midian?

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/the-oasis-of-qurayyah/?

[8thdaypriest]

 

[8thdaypriest]

 

[8thdaypriest]

Expedition Bible is a good site.  If you subscribe to his channel, you can see any of his videos.

[phkrause]

Analysis of ancient Scythian leather samples shows two were made from human skin

A multi-institutional team of anthropologists has discovered that two pieces of ancient Scythian leather excavated at sites in Ukraine were made from human skin. In their project, reported on the open-access site PLOS ONE, the group tested an account by the Greek historian Herodotus regarding certain behaviors of ancient Scythian warriors.

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-analysis-ancient-scythian-leather-samples.html?

Introducing the Scythians

The Scythians (pronounced ‘SIH-thee-uns') were a group of ancient tribes of nomadic warriors who originally lived in what is now southern Siberia (Opens in new window). Their culture flourished from around 900 BC to around 200 BC, by which time they had extended their influence all over Central Asia – from China to the northern Black Sea.

https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/introducing-scythians?

[phkrause]

Dating the Copper Scroll

In 1952, archaeologists found the Copper Scroll in a cave at the site of Qumran near the Dead Sea. Made of copper, the scroll stood apart from the rest of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were composed of parchment or papyrus. Once unrolled and deciphered, the Copper Scroll was confirmed as being further unique: It describes a vast treasure—hidden in locations throughout the Judean wilderness. Immediately people began to wonder whether the Copper Scroll might be a map to treasure from the Jerusalem Temple.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead-sea-scrolls/dating-the-copper-scroll/?

[phkrause]

Bulla of Servant of Jeroboam Redeemed?

A group of scholars has proposed that an intriguing seal impression (bulla), bought on the Israeli antiquities market more than 40 years ago, may be the real deal. Referencing Jeroboam II (r. 784–748 BCE), the bulla would be one of the earliest known impressions of a Hebrew royal seal. If it is real, that is. Publishing in the journal Tel Aviv, the scholars present a fleet of tests performed on the bulla, which they believe provide firm evidence for its authenticity. Some scholars warn, however, that it remains nearly impossible to prove such an object is authentic.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/bulla-of-servant-of-jeroboam/?