In a new article in the journal Antiquity, Prof. Lorenzo Nigro of Sapienza University in Rome argues that a structure once thought to be a Phoenician harbour in Sicily was actually a sacred pool in honor of Baal. When the rectangular, artificial basin was first discovered in 1906, it was thought to be an artificial harbor, called a kothon. In his article, Nigro points out that the structure was a freshwater pool with three temples surrounded by a circular wall, and that it was not connected with the sea. Rather, it is more consistent with other Phoenician sites where natural and artificial water sources were used for ritual purposes. A statue would have once stood in the center of the pool; the statue is gone, but one fragment of a foot has been found. More importantly, a Greek inscription dedicated to “Belios” was found in a votive pit beside the pool’s south-eastern corner (Baal was worshiped as Belios by the ancient Greeks). Nigro believes the sacred pool would have also served another purpose: a smooth surface with which to view the stars. He argues that the ancient Phoenicians adored the stars as gods or deceased ancestors and that the position of the constellations was important to the sailors among them. If his identification is correct, this will lead to a better understanding of the worship of ancient Phoenicians. The Bible refers to the Phoenicians from Tyre as “the princes of the sea” (Ez. 26:16).
2. Ancient Wells Discovered Along The Horus Road Through the Sinai
Archaeologists excavating near Tel el-Kedwa in the North Sinai have unearthed a group of wells on the famous Way of Horus road. They believe the wells were built before the reign of Seti I, but were later deliberately filled in so that Persians, who invaded in 525 BC could not use them. Only one well was not filled in, and it was constructed in an unconventional way, dug into yellow sand with 1-meter pottery rings placed on top of each other. Pottery vessels, which were discovered at the well, date to the 26th Dynasty, also known as the Saite period. The Way of Horus was an ancient road lined with military fortresses that connected Egypt and Canaan. It is referred to in the Bible as the “way of the land of the Philistines.” Exodus 13:17 reads, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.”
NEWS LINKS: https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/113344/Pics-Egyptian-mission-working-in-Tel-el-Kedwa-succeeds-in
1. Oldest Proto-Alphabetic Inscription in Israel Contains the Name of YHWH
The Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) have announced the discovery of a curse tablet bearing an ancient Hebrew inscription which was recovered in the dump piles from Adam Zertal’s excavations on Mt. Ebal. The small, folded lead tablet was discovered in December 2019 through the process of wet-sifting during the Mt. Ebal Dump Salvage project, led by Dr. Scott Stripling. A team of scholars, including Dr. Stripling and four scientists from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, as well as two epigraphers – Pieter Gert van der Veen of Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz and Gershon Galil of the University of Haifa – used advanced tomographic scans to recover the hidden text. The recently deciphered the proto-alphabetic inscription reads:
Cursed, cursed, cursed – cursed by the God YHW.
You will die cursed.
Cursed you will surely die.
Cursed by YHW – cursed, cursed, cursed.
From 1982–1989 Adam Zertal excavated a rectangular altar, dating to the 13th century BC, on Mt. Ebal. Beneath this structure and at the exact geometric center, was a round altar, which may date to the Late Bronze Age, the time of Joshua. The biblical text describes Joshua building an altar on Mt. Ebal (Josh. 8:30) and it being the mountain from which curses were pronounced (Deut. 27:13-26).
If this artifact does indeed date to the Late Bronze Age, is an important discovery! Inscriptions from ancient Israel are rare, and this one bears the name YHWH, the name by which God revealed Himself to Moses (Ex. 3:14). It is the oldest inscription containing the divine name YHW yet discovered in ancient Israel. Moreover, the lead curse tablet has been dated to the Late Bronze Age, and may be connected with the renewal of the covenant on Mt. Ebal (Josh. 8:30-35). It is also further evidence that the Bible was written at the time it purports to be, and not centuries later as those who hold to the documentary hypothesis assert.
An academic, peer-reviewed article is in process and will be published later in 2022.
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Get the latest BREAKING NEWS in biblical archaeology each week here: https://biblearchaeology.org/current-events-list
Top Three Reports in Biblical Archaeology – April 2022
This month, the top three reports in biblical archaeology were about a New Testament-site, an Old Testament-era female Pharaoh, and one of the most famous relics of all-time. https://biblearchaeologyreport.com/2022/04/29/top-three-reports-in-biblical-archaeology-april-2022/
3. Volunteer Group Begins Clean-Up of Tiberias; Lobbies for National Park
Tiberias was one of the most important cities in Galilee during the Roman era; it boasted a large Roman theatre with a stunning view of the Sea of Galilee and the luxurious palace of Herod Antipas. Today, the site is largely neglected with the ruins covered in weeds, garbage, and subject to looting and vandalism. Recently, a group of volunteers led by the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archaeology, started cleaning up the sites and is raising funds to continue preserving the ancient ruins. They are hopeful that a plan to see various levels of government and the Israel Antiquities Authority establish a new national park in Tiberias to restore and preserve the history of the site. Tiberias is a biblical site, and is mentioned in John 6:23, where people in boats from Tiberias come looking for Jesus after he fed 5000 people.
2. Obelisk of Hatshepsut Re-erected at the Karnak Temple
An obelisk depicting Queen Hatshepsut and her reverence for the god Amun was recently re-erected at the Temple at Karnak in Egypt. The granite obelisk, which stands 11 meters tall and weighs 90 tons, was toppled by an earthquake in at some point in antiquity. At the beginning of the 20th century, archaeologist George Legrain moved the upper part of the obelisk, laying it beside the sacred lake inside the temple complex. Recently, scholars studying Hatshepsut’s monument discovered it was in danger and decided to restore and re-erect it in its original position. Hatshepsut was a powerful woman during the 18th Dynasty; she was the daughter of Pharoah Thutmose I who married her half-brother Thutmose II. When he died, Hatshepsut ruled as co-regent with the young Thutmose III. Recent scholarship has shown that she adopted the full title and regalia of a pharaoh herself. Some have suggested that Hatshepsut was the daughter of pharaoh who drew Moses out of the Nile River (Ex. 2:5).
1. New Analysis Dates Shroud of Turin to the First Century
A new study overseen by Dr. Liberato de Caro of Italy’s Institute of Crystallography of the National Research Council, in Bari has concluded that the Shroud of Turin dates to the first century. In a report published on the website of Italy’s Department of Chemical Sciences and Materials Technologies, de Caro outlined the “Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering” or WAXS method they used, which measures the structural degradation due to natural aging of the cellulose that makes up the fibers of the linen threads. This process, which is non-destructive, was used on a variety of historical textiles which have well-documented ages, and then compared to the Shroud of Turin; the best match was with a piece of fabric from ca. AD 55-74 known to have come from the siege of Masada in Israel. The new dating contradicts the 1988 carbon-14 test of fabric threads from the shroud, which dated the relic to the Middle Ages. Critics have long-pointed out that that test was flawed, as it came from an area of the fabric that was repaired in the Middle Ages. The new study also notes that ancient textiles can become contaminated with substances over time that could distort carbon-14 results. The new findings, if accurate, suggest that the fabric of the Shroud of Turin originated around the time of Christ.
NEWS LINK: https://aleteia.org/2022/04/22/new-technology-suggests-shroud-of-turin-is-2000-years-old/
BONUS: Watch Episode 165 of Digging for Truth about the Shroud of Turin.
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Get the latest BREAKING NEWS in biblical archaeology each week here: https://biblearchaeology.org/current-events-list
Top Three Reports in Biblical Archaeology – May 2022
This month featured news related to two famous biblical people, as well as a the first remains dating to a particular period in Israel. Here were the top three reports in biblical archaeology in May 2022. https://biblearchaeologyreport.com/2022/05/27/top-three-reports-in-biblical-archaeology-may-2022/
3. Excavations to Begin at Tel Timna, Joshua’s Hometown
New excavations are set to begin at Khirbet Tibna/Tel Timna, which is identified as biblical TImna, the hometown of Joshua. The excavations will run from July 24-Aug. 19, 2022 and are directed by Dvir Raviv and Avraham Tendler of Bar Ilan University. Initial surveys have indicated that the city reached its height during the Iron Age II and early Roman periods. Some have suggested there is evidence of a Hellenistic-Hasmonean fortress at the site. The book of Joshua records, “When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for-Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.” The site of biblical Timna has never been excavated before.
NEWS LINKS: https://www.bibleplaces.com/blog/2022/05/excavations-beginning-at-joshuas-hometown/
2. 2100-Year-Old Farming Settlement Discovered in Galilee
A salvage excavation at Horbat Asad in the eastern Galilee has unearthed a Hellenistic/Hasmonean-era farmstead and an earlier, Iron Age agricultural settlement. The Hellenistic/Hasmonean farmstead appears to have been suddenly abandoned, with iron tools and loom-weights discovered as if they’d been left behind. Coins were also found which, when cleaned, may provide a more specific chronology of the site. These are the first remains from this era discovered in the Galilee. According to the lead excavator, “It is a very important and valuable site to teach us about the spread of the Hasmonean Empire and daily life in the Hellenistic period.” Archaeologists also uncovered the remains of a substantial agricultural settlement from the 10th century BC. Loom weights indicated herds of sheep and goats were kept, and cooking pots helped the excavators date this layer at the site.
1. Herod the Great’s Alabaster Tubs Made With Stone from Israel, Not Egypt
The results of a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports has demonstrated that the alabaster bathtubs from Herod the Great’s Kypros fortress near Jericho were made from local stone, and not Egyptian alabaster as previously thought. The authors of the study analyzed the chemical composition of the stone using a number of tests: inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis, routine infra-red (IR) spectroscopy, 1H- and 31P- solid state NMR (ssNMR) experiments; and C and O stable isotope ratio analysis to determine their composition and their crystalline structure. All of the tests were consistent in pointing to the fact that the alabaster came from the Te’omim cave, located on the western slopes of the Jerusalem hills near modern-day Beit Shemesh. In the Bible, Herod the Great was the king at the time of Jesus’ birth. Further, the Herodian palaces would have no-doubt been familiar to Jesus who spent time near Jericho (Mt 20:29; Mk 10:46; Lk 18:35).
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Get the latest BREAKING NEWS in biblical archaeology each week here: https://biblearchaeology.org/current-events-list
Top Three Reports in Biblical Archaeology – June 2022
During the past month the news from the world of biblical archaeology included stories related to the ancient empire of Mitanni, a Roman emperor, and a Jewish proselyte. Here were the top three reports in biblical archaeology in June 2022. https://biblearchaeologyreport.com/2022/06/29/top-three-reports-in-biblical-archaeology-june-2022/
3. Ancient Mittanian City Exposed After Period of Drought in Iraq
A 3,400-year-old city was recently exposed after an extended period of drought resulted in the water levels falling in a major reservoir in Iraq. Archaeologists first excavated the site in 2018 when it was previously exposed, but had to suspend their dig when the water levels rose again. The drought this year provided them with another opportunity to excavate the site in Kemune in the Kurdistan Region. The Bronze Age city is believed to be the remains of ancient Zakhiku, a city in the Empire of Mittani (ca. 1550-1350 BC) which controlled parts of northern Mesopotamia and Syria. Massive fortifications, storage buildings, and an industrial complex were all investigated. In addition, over 100 cuneiform tablets dating back to the Middle Assyrian period were discovered in five ceramic jars. Some of these were found still in their clay envelopes. While the nation of Mitanni is not mentioned directly in the Bible, a Mittanian king may be named. During the period of the Judges, Othniel delivered Israel from the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram Naharaim (Jdg 3:8-9). Dr. Clyde Billington has argued that Cushan was part of the Rishathaim people of Aram Naharaim, who once ruled the ancient Kingdom of Mitanni.
OFF-SITE LINK: http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/zakhiku-mitanni-empire-10883.html
2. Columns and Capitals Originally from Church of the Holy Sepulchre Moved to Museum
Several pieces of ancient pillars, as well as two Corinthian capitals, are being moved from the garden of the Church of Gethsemane to the Franciscan Terra Sancta Museum in Old City of Jerusalem. The museum is located at the Church of the Flagellation near the Lion’s Gate. The pillars and capitals originally came from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where they were discovered in1969 inside a wall in the northern side of the church belonging to the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. The columns are believed to have come from a Roman temple which the emperor Hadrian (AD 117-139) had constructed over the place of Jesus’ burial, although they may have even been reused from the time of King Herod. Samples of the marble have been taken for dating analysis.
OFF-SITE LINK: https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-708684
1. “Proselyte” Inscription Unearthed in Cemetery at Beit Shearim
An 1800 year-old grave marker from “Jacob the Proselyte” was recently discovered in the prestigious cemetery at Beit Shearim. The inscription, written in red ink, reads, “Jacob (Iokobos) the convert [proselyte] swears upon himself that any who open this grave will be cursed.” This is followed by a thick red line and a second inscription. written by another, which reads, “Aged 60.” Scholars believe Jacob composed his own grave marker prior to death, with the secondary “Aged 60” inscription being added after he died. Over 300 inscriptions in four languages have been discovered at the Beit Shearim necropolis; this is the first that unequivocally states that a convert is buried there. In the New Testament era and subsequent centuries there appear to have been two groups of converts to Judaism: proselytes, gentiles who became full-converts by adopting all of the commandments, and God-fearers, who followed some Jewish rites but were likely not circumcised. Both proselytes (Mt. 23:15) and God-fearers (Acts 13:16) are mentioned in the New Testament.
OFF-SITE LINK: https://www.timesofisrael.com/1800-year-old-grave-marker-for-jacob-the-convert-stumbled-upon-at-beit-shearim/
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Get the latest BREAKING NEWS in biblical archaeology each week here: https://biblearchaeology.org/current-events-list
Top Three Reports in Biblical Archaeology – July 2022
A damaged archaeological site, a Second Temple-era villa, and a potential Late Bronze Age inscription from Jerusalem were all in the news this month. Here were the top three reports in biblical archaeology in July 2022. https://biblearchaeologyreport.com/2022/07/28/top-three-reports-in-biblical-archaeology-july-2022/
3. Farmer Accidentally Burns Tel Gezer Park
A farmer in Israel who was using a “controlled fire” to clear land for agriculture is responsible for the wildfire that recently burned large areas of the Tel Gezer National Park. It took 20 firefighters, four planes and two helicopters to contain the blaze that spread quickly as a result of the windy, dry conditions. An initial assessment by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority has determined that no irreversible damage was done to the antiquities at the site, although they will need to be cleaned and restored. In particular, the ancient Canaanite water system at Tel Gezer came through unscathed. Gezer is a prominent city in biblical history: the king of Gezer was defeated by Joshua during the Conquest (Josh. 10:33) and Pharaoh later conquered Gezer, giving it to Solomon as a dowry for his daughter who became Solomon’s wife (1 Kings 9:16). The gate system at Gezer is famous for the fact that it is similar to the ones at Megiddo and Hazor, evidence of Solomon’s building campaigns described in 1 Kings 9:15.
NEWS LINK: https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-711254
2. First-Century Villa with Ritual Bath Discovered in the “Upper City” of Jerusalem
Excavations conducted in preparation for a project to increase access to the Western Wall for disabled people have unearthed a first-century villa which once overlooked the Second Temple. The villa is located in what Josephus called the “Upper City,” an area in Jerusalem where elites used to live. The villa had its own mikvah (Jewish ritual bath), which was hewn into the limestone mountainside and vaulted with large dressed stones. Archaeologists also discovered artifacts from the Roman-Byzantine and Ottoman periods, including an industrial pool constructed by Roman soldiers where were stationed in Jerusalem. In the bottom layer of tile bricks one was found to be stamped with the letters “LXF,” a short form for “Legio X Fretensis,” the full name of the Tenth Legion.
1. Late Bronze Age Stone Tablet With Curse Against Jerusalem’s Governor Recently Translated
Prof. Gershon Galil from the Institute of Biblical Studies and Ancient History at the University of Haifa recently announced that he had deciphered a 3500-year-old stone tablet which was discovered in 2010 by archaeologist Eli Shukron in an ancient compound called the Pillar Temple in the City of David. According to his translation, the inscription contains a curse upon the governor of Jerusalem at that time. It reads:
“Cursed, cursed, you will surely die;
Cursed, cursed, you will surely die;
Governor of the City, you will surely die;
Cursed, you will surely die;
Cursed, you will surely die;
Cursed, you will surely die.”
The inscription contains 20 words and 63 letters in Proto-Canaanite script, called proto-alphabetic by some scholars. If the translation it accurate, the stone tablet is one of the earliest inscriptions from Jerusalem and implies the city of Jerusalem was significant enough at that point in history to have a governor. Furthermore, this inscription is similar to the inscription found on the lead curse tablet from Mt. Ebal, which was announced earlier this year, and which also dates to the Late Bronze Age, suggesting written curses were not uncommon at that time.
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