Current Events Articles: November 2016

World's Oldest Harbor Discovered in Red Sea posted by Bryan Windle

Archaeologists diving off the Egyptian coast near Wadi el-Jarf have discovered the world's oldest known harbor, dating back 4600 years. Papyri discovered near the site identify it as the harbor built by King Cheops (known also as Khufu), to import materials to build the Great Pyramid of Giza. A 200-meter-long, L-shaped pier built of limestone blocks was discovered underwater, which would have served as a breakwater to protect the boats anchored in the harbor. Divers also found 22 limestone anchors in situ where the ships would have been moored. Next to the harbor, archaeologists unearthed the remains of two large stone structures, possibly used for administrative purposes. Between these structures, close to 100 stone anchors were found, some of which had ropes attached to them. Many of these had inscriptions that named the boat they belonged to. The discoveries at the Wadi el-Jarf harbor are testament to the sophisticated level of organization and administration the Egyptians had developed at that time.
 
Off-site Link:
- http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.754616

Dr. Scott Stripling Named Seminary Provost posted by Bryan Windle

ABR staff member Dr. Scott Stripling has been named the new Provost for The Bible Seminary (TBS) in Katy, TX, beginning January 1, 2017. Dr. Stripling has been an adjunct professor at TBS since 2013, and has developed and taught their graduate theology course, "Church History – Acts."  He also led the seminary's first Holy Land Study Tour in 2015. Friends of the Associates for Biblical Research are no stranger to Dr. Stripling and his work. In addition to being a respected archaeologist, a popular speaker and the author of two books – The Trowel and the Truth and Somebody Call 911 – he has been the Director of the Khirbet el-Maqatir dig since 2010, and will be heading up ABR's new dig at Shiloh in 2017. The Associates for Biblical Research would like to congratulate Dr. Scott Stripling on the honor of this new position at The Bible Seminary.

Off-site Link:
- http://www.thebibleseminary.org/tbs/index.php/en/news/item/279-stripling-named-new-provost

Israel to Search for New Dead Sea Scrolls posted by Bryan Windle

The Israel Antiquities Authority will be heading up a new search for more Dead Sea Scroll manuscripts, the first major expedition since 1993's "Operation Scroll" effort, which found no new scrolls at that time. In recent years, ancient manuscripts and fragments have been for sale on the antiquities market, and it is suspected that they were looted from caves near the Dead Sea. The planned expedition will begin in December, and will be a three-year attempt to unearth previously undiscovered Dead Sea scrolls, as well as other artifacts from the Jewish-Roman War (first century) and the Bar Kochba revolt (second century), when many Jewish fighters hid in the desert caves.
 
Off-site Link:
- http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/israel-launch-major-expedition-find-dead-sea-scrolls-43525925

Canaanite Offerings Discovered at Gezer posted by Bryan Windle

A 3600-year-old trove of gold and silver artifacts has been discovered at Tel Gezer National Park. The hoard was found inside a clay pot, wrapped in cloth, and seemingly placed in the foundations of a building. The specific items include figurines of Canaanite gods, a silver pendant featuring an eight-pointed star, and an Egyptian scarab in a gold bezel that dates to the Hyksos era. Archaeologists hypothesize that this trove was deliberately placed in the foundation of the building as an offering to the gods to seek their blessing for the structure. In the Canaanite period, Gezer was an important city, and was rebuilt during the Israelite period by King Solomon (1 Ki 9:17).   
 
Off-site Links:
- http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.753136
- http://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-canaanite-era-trove-of-gold-and-silver-unearthed-in-central-israel/

First Temple-Era Artifacts Unearthed on Temple Mount posted by Bryan Windle

Israeli archaeologists recently announced the discovery of the first artifacts to have been unearthed in situ on the Temple Mount that conclusively date to the time of Solomon's Temple. The digs were carried out quietly from 2007 to this past year in a rare display of cooperation between the Islamic Waqf and Israeli archaeologists, and occurred during infrastructure work at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Pottery shards, animal bones and olive pits were found and dated to be 2500-2600 years in age.
 
Off-site Links:
- http://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologists-reveal-first-solomons-temple-era-artifacts-ever-found-on-temple-mount/
- http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.749337

Tomb of Jesus Uncovered for First Time in Centuries posted by Bryan Windle

For the first time since at least 1555 AD, the purported tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been unsealed, revealing the surface of the limestone burial bed on which it is believed Jesus' body lay. The burial bed had been covered with a marble slab centuries ago to prevent pilgrims from chipping off pieces of the tomb as souvenirs. After removing the marble slab, archaeologists were surprised to find a layer of fill, and then a second marble slab with a cross carved into its surface. The researchers had been given only 60 hours to complete their work. Just hours before their time was up, the original limestone surface of the burial bed was uncovered and found intact. Throughout the operation, the archaeologists photographed and documented their findings; these will be studied in further detail in the coming months and years. The tomb has since been resealed, and renovations to the badly deteriorating Edicule (shrine) will continue until next spring. While it is impossible to know conclusively that this is the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth described in the Gospels, the historical claims of the site are significant and nothing initially discovered in the recent unsealing would contradict the long-standing Christian tradition that this is the original empty tomb of Jesus.
 
Off-site Links:
- http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/jesus-christ-tomb-burial-church-holy-sepulchre/
- http://www.timesofisrael.com/scientists-expose-original-stone-of-jesuss-jerusalem-tomb/
- https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/justintaylor/2016/10/27/the-burial-place-of-jesus-exposed-for-the-first-time-in-centuries/

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