Tag Archives: Biblical Archaeology

Khirbet Qeiyafa excavation ending. Garfinkel’s next dig site is…

The Khirbet Qeiyafa excavation is wrapping up this summer and excavators Yosef Garfinkel and Michael Hasel have just announced their next dig site. The excavation is moving to Lachish. They will proceed with surveying and test pits this summer followed … Continue reading

Posted in Biblical Archaeology, General Archaeology, Israel, Khirbet Qeiyafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Star Trek over the Bible Lands plus Two Good Books

Aren Maeir has posted a link to this nice video sequence from NASA, showing the Bible Lands at night from the International Space Station. (Requires Quicktime) It begins with Egypt and moves over Israel/the Palestinian Territories, Syria, and finishes over … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Links to interesting stuff, Publications & Study Materials, Short videos, Tech & Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Update on the Khirbet Qeiyafa Dig: One More Season with a Twist

A few months ago it appeared 2012 would be the last dig season at Khirbet Qeiyafa, one year earlier planned. That is no longer the case, and there is a twist. In the last days of the 2012 season, after … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Khirbet Qeiyafa excavation, Biblical Archaeology, Israel, Khirbet Qeiyafa, New Discoveries | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Does a Newly Discovered Seal Show Samson Fighting a Lion?

Excavators at Tel Beth-Shemesh recently announced the discovery of a small seal that shows a human figure possibly fighting a large lion. The seal was found in an 11th century B.C. context. In the Bible, Samson lived in the area … Continue reading

Posted in Biblical Archaeology, General Archaeology, Inscriptions and Manuscripts, Israel, New Discoveries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Garfinkel responds to discussions about the new Qeiyafa shrines

Yossi Garfinkel asked me to post some comments from him regarding the new discoveries from Khirbet Qeiyafa. These comments address some misconceptions about his conclusions. For one, he clarifies that the unique shrine here is the stone model, not the … Continue reading

Posted in Ancient Architecture, Biblical Archaeology, General Archaeology, Israel, Jerusalem, Khirbet Qeiyafa, New Discoveries, Publications & Study Materials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New Finds from Khirbet Qeiyafa May Clarify Bible Text, Temple Architecture

During last summer’s dig, we found artifacts that relate to Israelite religion before Solomon’s temple. They may even help us understand more about the temple itself. As the Israel Antiquities Authority headlined it for this morning’s press conference, “Hebrew University archaeologist … Continue reading

Posted in 2011 Khirbet Qeiyafa excavation, Ancient Architecture, Bible comments, Biblical Archaeology, Israel, Jerusalem, Khirbet Qeiyafa, New Discoveries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Report: New Finds from 1st & 2nd Temple Periods on Slope of Temple Mount

An upcoming report details new finds from as far back as the 10th-9th centuries B.C. in a salvage excavation on the eastern slope of the Temple Mount. Workers uncovered these pits along the Kidron Valley in 2009 and turned the … Continue reading

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Questions on Khirbet Qeiyafa’s 2010 cultic room

Todd Bolen commented with a series of questions on my previous post about the Qeiyafa cultic room from 2010. Todd wrote: 1. What parallels exist for this type of incense altar? 2. Was evidence of burning found in this room? … Continue reading

Posted in 2010 Khirbet Qeiyafa excavation, Ancient Architecture, Biblical Archaeology, General Archaeology, Khirbet Qeiyafa, New Discoveries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Garfinkel Announces New Religious Finds at Khirbet Qeiyafa (photos)

Yossi Garfinkel recently presented finds from a cultic room unearthed at Khirbet Qeiyafa in 2010. He sent me some photos for this blog just before his presentation in Jerusalem. They are shown here with his permission. Here is my own … Continue reading

Posted in 2010 Khirbet Qeiyafa excavation, Ancient Architecture, Biblical Archaeology, Khirbet Qeiyafa, New Discoveries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Ancient Gates of Megiddo

We had an interesting first day that began with a good Israeli breakfast, a pleasant morning drive in our rental van, and picturesque visits to biblical sites. We visited Megiddo, Mount Carmel and Caesarea before heading over to the Sea of … Continue reading

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