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archaeology
Mummies lie in a recently discovered burial chamber in the desert province of Minya, south of Cairo, Egypt on February 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Roger Anis)
February 2, 2019, 4:55 pm
Egypt discovers 40 mummies in ancient chambers in Minya
Officials say chambers belonged to middle-class family who probably lived during Ptolemaic, early Roman or Byzantine period
By AP
An unusual Chalcolithic period bowl example in which the entire surface is covered with triangles. (University of Haifa excavation team)
January 31, 2019, 4:42 pm
Haifa archaeologists look to crack mysterious 6,500-year-old ‘Triangle Code’
A study of basalt vessels shows the ancient bowls found across the Levant were centrally produced, but the discovery of a series of strange markings may point to a deeper meaning
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
A 2000-year-old coin from the rule of Herod Agrippa, found in Nahal Shilo in the West Bank in January 2019. (COGAT)
January 27, 2019, 12:37 pm
Kid on school trip unearths Second Temple-era coin in West Bank stream
2,000-year-old artifact found in Shilo stream is from the rule of Herod Agrippa, the last king of Judea and grandson of Herod the Great
By Michael Bachner
Researcher Oren Gutfeld inside Cave 52 at the Qumran archaeological site, January 22, 2019. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)
January 24, 2019, 9:51 pm
In the Qumran cliffs, an expedition digs up new Dead Sea Scroll caves
Winter excavation yields information on how an ascetic desert community lived and where it hid its precious sacred texts — and gives pointers for where to search next
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Photos and video: Luke Tress
Left: 2,800-year-old Iron Age horse figurine which was discovered after a rain near Beit She'an. Right: 2,200-year-old, Hellenistic-era horse figurine discovered near Tel Akko. (Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority)
January 22, 2019, 6:18 pm
Driving rain uncovers 2 rare horse statues, 2,000-years-old, in north of Israel
Look down: As small equine figurines surface in separate locations, accidental archaeologists are encouraged to quickly report the finds they stumble over
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
In the upper terrace at Kiriath-jearim, a massive wall was unearthed some 15 cm below topsoil. The well-preserved wall is circa 3 m broad and preserved to 2.15 m on its outer face. (Shmunis Family Excavations at Kiriath-jearim)
January 10, 2019, 8:05 pm
Biblical site tied to Ark of the Covenant unearthed at convent in central Israel
Excavation uncovers a unique, monumental structure previously unknown in the region. Was it a shrine — or the site of David’s triumphant parade of the legendary ark?
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Nir Distelfeld, Israel Antiquities Authority Theft Prevention Unit inspector, with the pair of limestone funerary busts, which were discerned by a hiker after early December heavy rains in the Beit She'an region. (Eitan Klein, Israel Antiquities Authority)
December 30, 2018, 2:35 pm
Two rare 1,700-year-old funerary busts unearthed in Beit She’an cemetery
After a rain, a local hiker discerned an unusual object popping out of the ancient graveyard: the only two such limestone statues — unique to the region — ever found in situ
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Staff Officer of Archeology of the Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria Area Hananya Hezmi at the Jerusalem-based Bible Lands Museum's new Finds Gone Astray exhibit. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/Times of Israel)
December 27, 2018, 8:03 pm
Artifacts stolen and smuggled in the West Bank now on display in Jerusalem
Bible Lands Museum hosts a small collection of the 40,000 antiquities confiscated by the Civil Administration which, while stripped of origin stories, still have tales to tell
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
American Veterans Archaeological Recovery co-founder Stephen Humphreys (right) at the Beth She'arim Excavation, August 2018. (courtesy)
December 26, 2018, 1:51 pm
6 archaeology stories from 2018 that made me rethink my world
Who knew? Archaeology is therapy; maybe a meteor destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; there are still new Dead Sea Scrolls treasures to decipher; and the mighty louse is a wonder
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
A 2,000-year-old bronze ring with a solitaire gem stone was uncovered in archaeological excavations in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem. (City of David)
December 23, 2018, 9:14 pm
Misplaced 2,000-year-old ring discovered in Jerusalem’s City of David
Unearthed in excavation of the monumental Pilgrims’ Path, the Second Temple-era adornment likely fell after use of a ritual bath, say archaeologists
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
This picture taken on December 15, 2018 shows a general view of a newly-discovered tomb belonging to the high priest "Wahtye" who served during the fifth dynasty reign of King Neferirkare (between 2500-2300 BC), at the Saqqara necropolis, 30 kilometres south of the Egyptian capital Cairo. (Khaled DESOUKI/AFP)
December 16, 2018, 3:39 am
Exceptionally preserved 4,400-year-old tomb uncovered in Egypt
‘One-of-a-kind’ site containing colorful scenes of official named Wahtye and his family discovered at pyramid complex south of Cairo, with more finds expected
By Agencies and TOI staff
Dr. Tzvika Tzuk, Israel Nature and Parks Authority's director of the department of archaeology, holds a tiny bronze bull. (Melanie Lidman/Times of Israel)
December 11, 2018, 7:21 pm
At Zippori pool where Judah Hanasi may have bathed, a rare tiny pagan bull found
Archaeologists believe they can connect a peculiar Talmudic story about the Sanhedrin head questioning the need for a fast day to a recently excavated site in a national park
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Bar-Ilan University Prof. Aren Maeir filmed for the new MOOC, 'Biblical Archaeology: The Archaeology of Ancient Israel and Judah.' (Yael Paz/Online Academe)
December 11, 2018, 9:12 am
Students from Pakistan, UAE, Oman join Israeli online biblical archaeology class
8-week course, open to applicants worldwide, provides an introduction to biblical archaeology and a deep look at the remains of ancient civilizations in the Holy Land
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
The Byzantine-period flax wick and copper casing, used to light lamps some 1,500 years ago, was discovered in the 1930s American Colt expedition to the Negev site of Shivta. (Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority)
December 10, 2018, 12:40 pm
Tiny 1,500-year-old flax lamp wick illuminates ancient Jewish law
Discovered in hitherto unpublished 1930s excavations in the Negev desert town of Shivta, the wick sheds light on how people banished darkness in the Byzantine era — and before
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Bronze pot with gold earring and coins inside, unearthed at Caesarea Maritima. (Yaniv Berman, courtesy of the Caesarea Development Corporation)
December 3, 2018, 2:57 pm
Trove of 11th century gold coins discovered in ancient Caesarea
Six incredibly rare Byzantine Empire gold coins and 18 Fatimid-era 24k coins testify to a wealthy family fleeing conquest on the eve of the bloody 1101 Crusade, say archaeologists
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
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