Current Events Articles: October 2017

ABR Digger Publishes New Book posted by Henry B Smith Jr MA MAR

Peggy Consolver, an ABR digger at Khirbet el-Maqatir and Shiloh, recently published a work of biblical fiction, Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer. ABR is delighted to carry her book in our online Bookstore (http://www.biblearchaeology.org/bookstore/product.aspx?id=349), as it brings to life the dusty stones wherein ABR seeks to gain insights into ancient biblical sites. In this story Keshub, a young shepherd boy, lives adventure every day as he defends his flock from predators and proves himself among older brothers. True to Scripture and authenticated by archaeological research, this tale of God's grace puts flesh and blood on the enigmatic Gibeonites who make a treaty with Joshua.

-- "Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer tells the story of the Hebrews' arrival in Canaan from a new point of view. A young Gibeonite shepherd's eyewitness account captures the tension in the ancient land of Canaan. Accurate descriptions of the terrain give the Bible student new insights into this historical event of the Late Bronze Age. The use of the archaeological artifact known as the Gezer Almanac adds credence to the timeline the author constructs." Bryant G. Wood, PhD, Director of Research, Associates for Biblical Research

-- "Here one will experience solid learning interwoven with joyful, sanctified 'filling of the gaps' that make the ancient text alive again in language of the heart." Eugene H. Merrill, PhD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

Roman Theater Discovered Under Wilson's Arch by the Western Wall posted by Bryan Windle

For the past two years, the Israel Antiquities Authority has quietly carried out excavations beneath Wilson's Arch near the Western Wall. They recently announced that they had unearthed eight stone courses of the wall that had remained buried for 1700 years and had discovered a Roman theater. Archaeologists discovered the curved, theater-like structure while they were searching for a known Second Temple road. The discovery of the theater, which contained 200 seats, confirms historical writers such as Josephus who described a Roman theater near the Temple Mount. The size of the structure and its location, under the roof of Wilson's Arch, has led researchers to suggest it was an odeon, for music or poetry presentations, or a bouleuterion - a place where the council of the Roman colony in Jerusalem met. The excavators believe the theater was never finished, as the stairs are not fully hewn and there are rocks with the guide marks inscribed on them for future stairs. The Israel Antiquities Authority plans to continue excavating for six more months in hopes of uncovering First Temple-era artifacts that are still buried beneath.

Off-site Links:
- https://www.timesofisrael.com/massive-section-of-western-wall-and-roman-theater-uncovered-after-1700-years/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=231&v=29kVDSYA4hY

Purported Seal of Solomon Declared Medieval Fake posted by Bryan Windle

Despite numerous sensationalistic media reports that a seal from King Solomon has been found, experts have declared the seal in question a medieval fake. Turkish authorities recently seized a number of artifacts from a suspected smuggler, which included a bronze seal purported to have belonged to King Solomon, several metal codices, and a golden bull figurine. One of the codices recovered resembles the infamous Jordanian Lead Codices (see our previous post on the Lead Codices here: http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2016/12/20/Jordanian-Lead-Books-in-the-News-Again.aspx). The items were taken to the Amasya Museum Directorate, where expert analysis revealed that all of the items date to the Middle Ages.

Off-site Links:
- http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/seal-of-solomon-may-be-found-in-amasya-120341
- http://paleojudaica.blogspot.ca/2017/10/metal-codices-seized-in-turkey.html
- https://www.dailysabah.com/history/2017/10/03/artifacts-hoped-to-include-seal-of-solomon-date-back-to-middle-ages-experts-say

First Temple-Era Jewish Town Discovered posted by Bryan Windle

The archaeology department of the IDF Civil Administration recently uncovered a previously unknown ancient Jewish town. The discovery was made at an abandoned training base near the town of Beit El in Samaria. Underneath the old parade grounds, archaeologists uncovered artifacts, such as tools and seals, which date the settlement to the First Temple-era. Research has shown that the town was also inhabited during the Persian, Hellenistic, Hasmonean, and Roman eras as well. It was also periodically settled during the Byzantine and Muslim periods before finally being destroyed by an earthquake in 748 AD.

Off-site Link:

- http://www.jewishpress.com/news/history/secret-first-temple-jewish-city-discovered-under-idf-training-base/2017/09/28/

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