Ancient Cultures

Ancient Cultures

gamla-synagogue

Dec 3

Ancient Synagogues in Israel and the Diaspora

By: Megan Sauter

Were there synagogues before the Romans destroyed the Temple, or did they develop only afterward? Communal structures from the Second Temple period have been discovered, but should they be considered synagogues even though they don’t share the major architectural feature common to post-destruction synagogues?

The Egyptian scarab. Courtesy Emil Aladjem, IAA

Dec 2

Young Girl Discovers Egyptian Scarab

By: Nathan Steinmeyer

While walking with her family at Tel Qana near Tel Aviv, a young girl made a fantastic find: a small stone in the shape of […]

sss

Dec 1

First Person: Did the Kingdoms of Saul, David and Solomon Actually Exist?

By: Hershel Shanks

In BAR, Hershel Shanks examines a recent article published by archaeologist Amihai Mazar. Mazar contends that while the Biblical narratives were written hundreds of years after the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon, they “retain memories of reality.”

pompeii

Nov 29

DNA and Gender at Pompeii

By: Lila Wolk

In 79 CE, the Roman town of Pompeii was covered in volcanic ash, courtesy of Mt. Vesuvius. While the bodies of the dead decomposed long […]

Nov 28

A Feast for the Senses … and the Soul

By: Dorothy Willette

Go on a journey of the senses through history and discover the significance of ritual feasts and meals in antiquity.

Nov 26

The Last Days of Hattusa

By: Trevor Bryce

In the latter part of the second millennium B.C., the Hittite empire was a Near Eastern superpower. Then, suddenly, the empire collapsed and Hattusa was invaded and destroyed.

tel shimron

Nov 25

Megastructure Uncovered at Tel Shimron

By: Nathan Steinmeyer

Archaeologists at Tel Shimron in Israel’s Jezreel Valley have uncovered a remarkable megastructure, so far unique within the southern Levant. Rising nearly 20 feet above […]

Philistine captives at Medinet Habu

Nov 19

The Philistines: Urban Invaders or Emergent Immigrants?

By: Nathan Steinmeyer

A study, which examined archaeological finds from several Philistines cities, concluded that Philistine urbanization occurred gradually and only took place after they entered the southern Levant and were integrated with the local Canaanite community.

scanning a mummy

Nov 18

Unwrapping Mummy Mysteries

By: Nathan Steinmeyer

More than just the stuff of Hollywood movies, mummies and mummified remains have been the subject of scientific inquiry for centuries. Although early studies of […]

Photo of dig site at a 4,000-year-old temple on the island of Failaka in Kuwait

Nov 15

Bronze Age Temple Discovered in Kuwait

By: Nathan Steinmeyer

A joint Kuwaiti-Danish excavation has uncovered a 4,000-year-old temple on the island of Failaka in Kuwait. Belonging to the ancient kingdom of Dilmun, the temple […]