Sep 30
By: Robin Ngo
Want to see students in action on a dig? Check out this lighthearted music video featuring UNC Charlotte's Levine Scholars on the Mt. Zion excavations.
Sep 20
An ancient town dated to the first century C.E. has been discovered during archaeological work conducted on the northwest coast of the Sea of Galilee, according to a report by LiveScience. The University of Reading’s Ken Dark, who led the field survey, believes the town might be identified as Dalmanutha, which is known only from the New Testament.
Sep 19
A recent press release issued by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte details finds from the Mt. Zion excavations that may shed light on the domestic lives of Jewish elites in Jerusalem. The archaeological team, led by Shimon Gibson and James Tabor, uncovered the lower levels of what appears to be a first-century C.E. mansion that may have belonged to a member of the Jewish ruling priestly caste. Among the structures discovered in this mansion are a vaulted bath chamber with a bathtub connected to a large mikveh.
Aug 26
Archaeologists from Tel Aviv University discovered the remains of a massive fortification wall built around an Iron Age Assyrian harbor near modern-day Ashdod in Israel.
Aug 21
A ceramic bowl with an inscription that may allude to a Biblical figure was recently uncovered among thousands of First Temple period pottery sherds, clay lamps and figurines near Jerusalem’s Gihon Spring. The partially-preserved ancient Hebrew inscription roughly transliterates into English characters as “ryhu bn bnh.” When translated, this name is similar to Zechariah the son of Benaiah, whose name appears in 2 Chronicles 20:14. In the Biblical narrative, Zahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph) prophesied to King Jehoshaphat before the king went to war against the kingdoms of Ammon and Moab.
Aug 6
Excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) have uncovered part of a massive hospital dating to the Crusader period (1099-1291 C.E.). The structure lies in the heart of the Christian Quarter in the Old City in an area known as “Muristan” (based on the Persian word for hospital). Although only a portion of the building has been excavated, archaeologists estimate that the hospital covers 160,000 square feet. With ceilings reaching 20 feet in height, the building is characterized by massive pillars and ribbed vaults.
Jul 12
Excavators at the prominent Biblical site of Hazor in northern Israel have discovered part of a sphinx belonging to one of the pyramid-building pharaohs. All that remains of the small granite statue is the base holding the paws and part of the forearms of the sphinx.
Jul 9
For the first time, the camp of the Sixth Roman Legion may have been located. Analyzing an enhanced high-resolution satellite photo, archaeologist Yotam Tepper of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the Jezreel Valley Regional Project, identified what he believes to be the camp’s square-shaped boundary. The team conducted ground-penetrating radar and electromagnetic testing and subsequently carried out excavations at the site.
Jul 2
The Roman siege of Jerusalem during the First Jewish Revolt in the first century A.D. forced many of the city’s residents into starvation. For the first time, evidence possibly connected to the famine experienced during this siege has been discovered.
Jun 28
In the Roman Republic and Empire, state-sponsored roads were critical to the growth and preservation of the state.
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