Archaeology Archive
January 1, 2012
New Old First Temple Period Bulla
Ma'ariv is reporting the discovery of a First Temple period bulla with an inscription reading גבעון למלך which I guess means, “Gibeon, for the king.” Gabriel Barkay suggests that it represents taxes paid by the residents of Gideon to...Read all of "New Old First Temple Period Bulla"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:31 PM
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December 28, 2011
Early Bronze Age Burial Excavated In Syria
The Syrian Arab News Agency is reporting the discovery of an Early Bronze Age burial in the village of Sousan, 12 kilometers west of Ein al-Arab, Aleppo governorate. Excavators date the burial to c. 2150-2250 BCE. SANA Photograph He [Director...Read all of "Early Bronze Age Burial Excavated In Syria "
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:33 PM
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December 22, 2011
Emmett L. Bennett, Jr 1918-2011
It is with sadness that I learned that Emmett L. Bennett, Jr. died on December 15th. A giant among classicists, Bennett was the author of over 60 works including ten books. Abnormal readers know that while my principal research focus...Read all of "Emmett L. Bennett, Jr 1918-2011"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:52 AM
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December 15, 2011
“What We Have Here Is Failure To Communicate”
Back in September I quoted from a report on recent work on the Gezer water system. In that report I expressed concern about the reference to “the time of Abraham.” Yesterday, having read my post, Gary Myers sent me an...Read all of "“What We Have Here Is Failure To Communicate”"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:13 AM
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December 1, 2011
Confusing News On An Amenhotep III Statue
The Telegraph, The Washington Post and even Fox News are reporting that archaeologists have uncovered a massive quartzite stature of Amenhotep III at Luxor. The Telegraph headline is typical, “Statue of Amenhotep III, King Tut's grandfather, found.” But exactly when...Read all of "Confusing News On An Amenhotep III Statue"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:41 PM
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October 25, 2011
The Preliminary Gezer Report – Now Read
I took a few minutes last night to read the preliminary report on the renewed Gezer excavations that I mentioned yesterday. I found two things abnormally interesting. The first item that struck me was this concerning a “short wall” associated...Read all of "The Preliminary Gezer Report – Now Read"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:35 PM
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October 6, 2011
Visit Old Virtual Amarna
This from the Virtual Amarna Project's homepage: The Official Website of the Amarna Project The ancient Egyptian city of Tell el-Amarna (or simply Amarna) was the short-lived capital built by the ‘heretic’ Pharaoh Akhenaten and abandoned shortly after his death...Read all of "Visit Old Virtual Amarna"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:21 PM
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September 29, 2011
A Practicum In Historiography
Shirley and I are listening to the lecture portion of a course on History of the World to 1500 CE. Richard Bulliet of Columbia University taught the course a couple of years ago. While there are exceptions, Bulliet’s lectures are...Read all of "A Practicum In Historiography"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:09 PM
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September 27, 2011
Another New Old City In Turkey
“Lost city found in Dardanelles, Turkey: Older than Troy,” so says the National Turk. I assume the headline and the article means older than Troy I which it at ~7000 years old it certainly is. At first I thought this...Read all of "Another New Old City In Turkey"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:45 PM
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September 26, 2011
The Seymour Gitin Distinguished Professorship
Sy Gitin was my boss at Gezer. He went on to great things and I when on to other things. But we have remained in (very) occasional contact and I consider him a friend. Well, the W. F. Albright Institute...Read all of "The Seymour Gitin Distinguished Professorship"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:23 AM
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September 17, 2011
British Museum Online Database
Be sure to check out the British Museum’s searchable online database but be sure to schedule a lot of time for this abnormally interesting site. It will be hard to stop searching once you start. I’ve only looked a small...Read all of "British Museum Online Database"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:42 PM
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September 16, 2011
On The Gezer Water System
There are two new and interesting news items on the Gezer Water system (one link serves both). Here’s a sample, Gezer Water System Expedition, a joint project of NOBTS [New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary] and the Israel Nature and Parks...Read all of "On The Gezer Water System"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:54 PM
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September 14, 2011
Mari In Trouble
To look upon its remains [Mari, Tell Hariri] today, however, one would see a slow tragedy in the making. Its exposed walls are gradually eroding away, melting back into the natural landscape. Some of its excavated remains are now unrecognizable....Posted by Duane Smith at 1:57 PM
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September 4, 2011
The Lead Codices And The Bibliobloggers
Robert Cargill makes several important points about the so-called “Jordon Lead Codices” and about Tom Verenna's video on them and their debugging. None of Bob’s observations is more interesting than this. If you have not been following this case, Bibliobloggers...Read all of "The Lead Codices And The Bibliobloggers"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:47 PM
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September 2, 2011
The Meyers On Archaeology
At internet speeds this is rather late but yesterday archaeologists Eric and Carol Meyers of Duke gave an abnormally interesting interview about things Biblical and things archaeological. If you haven’t watched it, your 49 minutes, 20 seconds will be well...Read all of "The Meyers On Archaeology"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:37 PM
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August 25, 2011
Was The Horse Domesticated 9,000 years Ago?
Archaeologists working at a Neolithic site at al-Maqar in Saudi Arabia think so. I need to see a little more. Unattributed BBC Photo. While there may have better evidence, a figurine of a horse, however amazing, is not necessarily evidence...Read all of "Was The Horse Domesticated 9,000 years Ago?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:49 AM
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July 20, 2011
The Ziyaret Tepe Excavation
The Ziyaret Tepe Excavation has a great blog by excavation director Timothy Matney of the University of Akron. Ziyaret Tepe is an important Late Assyrian site. So far, Matney’s posts have combined interest and fun. I’ve added the Ziyaret Tepe...Read all of "The Ziyaret Tepe Excavation"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:51 PM
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July 15, 2011
Rollston on ‘Priests’ or ‘Priest’ in the Mariam (Miriam) Ossuary
Christopher Rollston has another interesting post on the Mariam (Miriam) ossuary inscription in which he argues for reading the final few words khn mm’zyh mbyt ‘mry, “priest of (from) Ma’aziah from Beth ‘Imri, rather than khnm m’zyh mbyt ‘mry, “priests...Read all of "Rollston on ‘Priests’ or ‘Priest’ in the Mariam (Miriam) Ossuary"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:44 PM
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July 6, 2011
Rollston On The Mariam Daughter of Yeshua’ Ossuary
Like me, Christopher Rollston finds the final words of the inscription, dbyt ‘mry, 'of the house of ‘Imry,' “very interesting.” Also like me, he doesn’t seem to have any explanation for these words. Unlike me, he has an abnormally interesting...Read all of "Rollston On The Mariam Daughter of Yeshua’ Ossuary"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:55 AM
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July 1, 2011
Aramaic Cuneiform Tablets From Tal Mabtouh Sharqi?
Yes, there are a very few tablets in cuneiform script where the language of the text is Aramaic. More common are Akkadian cuneiform tablets with Aramaic dockets written on their edge. The real question is, are recently discovered cuneiform tablets...Read all of "Aramaic Cuneiform Tablets From Tal Mabtouh Sharqi?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:12 PM
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June 29, 2011
On The Miriam Ossuary
See Robert Cargill’s post and the posts and other stuff he links to. I think at this point he has the most complete discussion of this ossuary and its intriguing inscription. Perhaps I’ll have something of my own to say...Read all of "On The Miriam Ossuary"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:02 PM
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June 27, 2011
Pre-12th Century Levels At Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus
Peter M. Fischer and his team have posted a report on “The New Swedish Cyprus Expedition 2011: Excavations at Dromolaxia Vizatzia / Hala Sultan Tekke (preliminary report).” For me, the haematite cylinder seal is abnormally interesting but everything else is...Read all of "Pre-12th Century Levels At Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:02 PM
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The Custom of the Land
From Gilgamesh Tablet II:30-41: They set bread before him, They set beer before him. He looked uncertainly, then stared, Enkidu did not know to eat bread, Nor had he ever learned to dronk beer! The Harlot made ready to speak,...Read all of "The Custom of the Land"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:12 AM
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June 20, 2011
New Old Late Bronze Age Fortress On Cyprus
From a University of Cincinnati news release: A recent find by a University of Cincinnati archeologist suggests an ancient Cypriot city was well protected from outside threats. That research, by UC’s Gisela Walberg, professor of classics, will be presented at...Read all of "New Old Late Bronze Age Fortress On Cyprus"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:51 PM
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June 1, 2011
Just How Old Are These Houses?
And did a few millennia get lost in translation? Okay, which is it? Do these houses date back to the 4th century or the 11th century BCE? Or are we really talking about millennium rather than centuries? Reporting on remarks...Read all of "Just How Old Are These Houses?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:16 PM
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May 31, 2011
New Old Statue of Amenhotep III Found
During a routine excavation at the funerary temple of the 18th Dynasty king, Amenhotep III (c. 1390-1352 BC), at Kom el-Hettan area on Luxor’s west bank, the mission of the Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project unearthed...Read all of "New Old Statue of Amenhotep III Found"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:51 AM
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May 24, 2011
What To Do?
Shirley and I are putting together a little exhibit for our local public library that will feature some of the pots I discussed in my old Friday Pot Blogging series. It will include a few other things archaeological plus some...Posted by Duane Smith at 2:45 PM
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May 12, 2011
A Well Aged Wine
I enjoy a small class of wine every evening. I normally drink the cheep stuff but once in a while, I’ll splurge on something whose vantage is indicated in years rather than days. But this is ridiculous. Archaeologists have discovered...Read all of "A Well Aged Wine"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:22 AM
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April 27, 2011
Finkelstein On The Politics Archaeology Of Jerusalem
Israel Finkelstein writes, “In the Eye of Jerusalem’s Archaeological Storm: The City of David, Beyond the Politics and Propaganda” for The Forward, Archaeological activity in Jerusalem has been sucked into a whirlwind of conflicting political agendas, and the site commonly...
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Posted by Duane Smith at 3:13 PM
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April 15, 2011
Lewis Binford (November 21, 1930 – April 11, 2011)
Lewis Binford died on Monday of this week. Here’s part of what the Southern Methodist University had to say about Lewis Binford. Lewis R. Binford, SMU Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, died April 11 in Kirksville, Mo. During his 40-year career...Read all of "Lewis Binford (November 21, 1930 – April 11, 2011)"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:24 PM
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Titles Only From Here On
April 9, 2011
Quotation Of The Day
March 24, 2011
New Project at Byblos
March 8, 2011
Homer Can’t Live By Naveh and Powell Alone
March 7, 2011
An Abbreviated Public Service
March 6, 2011
The Egyptian Throne
February 20, 2011
Mud Brick Construction In Egypt
February 2, 2011
Greek Fonts
February 1, 2011
Biblical Studies Carnival Is Up
January 26, 2011
New Old Or Old Old?
January 20, 2011
More On Old Snails
January 14, 2011
Finkelstein And The Role of Archaeology (And Texts)
January 2, 2011
These Books Deserve A Loving Home
December 29, 2010
A Lesbian Amphora From Tel Qudadi
December 13, 2010
New Old Temple Discovered In Syria
December 9, 2010
What’s In A Name?
December 7, 2010
Finkelstein and Qeiyafa
December 4, 2010
Old Photos From Palestine and Environs
December 2, 2010
More On Hazor
November 10, 2010
Four Stone Hearth – The Abnormal Edition
November 8, 2010
Ramses III Inscription Found In Saudi Arabia
November 6, 2010
Four Stone Hearth - Nominations Are Now Open
October 18, 2010
New Ancient World Open Bibliographies Blog
September 29, 2010
Der Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae Online
September 14, 2010
Old Syrian Hawk Discovered
September 6, 2010
A 7-6th Century BCE Scarab With An “Ugaritic” Shin?
September 1, 2010
Moabite(?) Temple Discovered
Claremont Colleges Digital Library And What Isn’t In It
August 19, 2010
Four Stone Hearth - 1 Short of 100
August 15, 2010
The Hazor Law Tablet Fragments A Surface Find
August 12, 2010
The Phoenician City Of Aüza (re)Located(?)
August 6, 2010
Divine Kingship
August 5, 2010
Four Stone Hearth #98 Is Up
August 2, 2010
David, Jerusalem, And Other Underdetermined Questions
July 30, 2010
Archaeology And Computer Modeling
July 26, 2010
More(?) On The Hazor Fragments
July 22, 2010
Friends Of Tayinat
July 12, 2010
Old Snails
July 7, 2010
Kubaba
July 6, 2010
The Time Of My Life
June 26, 2010
Looting In Iraq
June 24, 2010
Answers and Questions and Real Questions
June 22, 2010
Do We Still Have This Problem?
June 17, 2010
Closing In On An Absolute Chronology Of Dynastic Egypt
June 16, 2010
Why I Am Thankful For Hershel Shanks
June 13, 2010
GT, BGT, GTY
June 12, 2010
Not Quite Squares
June 9, 2010
A Couple Of Overdue Archaeology Items
June 2, 2010
Ooops
May 30, 2010
Later Occupations Of Ras Shamra
May 27, 2010
Middle Assyrian “Cuneiforms” From Tell Qaber Abu al-Atiq
May 26, 2010
Water Systems In Text and Archaeology
May 19, 2010
Archaeomusicology
May 14, 2010
It’s All Turkish Archaeology To Me
May 10, 2010
The Discover of Cleopatra's Tomb: Is There News Or Is There No News?
May 7, 2010
Pictures, Drawing, Plans Please
May 2, 2010
Roman Pornography Halts Construction
April 23, 2010
Temple: Some Assembly Required
April 15, 2010
Four Stone Hearth Is Up, 90th Edition This Time
March 20, 2010
The Latest Anthropology Carnival Is Up
March 18, 2010
Another Book On My Reading List
March 3, 2010
History and Statistical Reasoning
February 22, 2010
A Big Wall Discovered in Jerusalem
February 19, 2010
Oh No, Not Again
February 17, 2010
Child Sacrifice at Carthage
February 1, 2010
Tales From Ancient Egypt: The Birth of Stories
January 27, 2010
Suppressing An Evil Thought About The Khirbet Qeiyafa Ostracon
January 14, 2010
The Ivory Shell Fragment From Kuntillet 'Ajrud
January 13, 2010
Rollston On The Qeiyafa Inscription
January 8, 2010
How Much Weight Can An Inscription Bear?
January 6, 2010
An In-depth Study
December 31, 2009
Four Stone Hearth #83 Is Up
December 30, 2009
Imaging The Khirbet Qeiyafa Ostracon
December 23, 2009
Biblical Archaeology In Perspective
November 21, 2009
Four Stone Hearth #80 Is Up
November 19, 2009
Statistically Orientated