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archaeology in Israel
The gilthead seabream fish, known as "denise" in Hebrew. (Courtesy Haifa University)
October 16, 2018, 6:58 pm
Ancient fish teeth reveal intensive 3,500-year-old aquaculture in Sinai
By studying chemical traits in the bones of gilthead seabream found in Israeli archaeological sites, scientists have unearthed the oldest known example of intensive fish farming
By TOI staff
The inscription as it was found in the excavation near the Jerusalem International Convention Center, winter 2018. (Danit Levy, Israel Antiquities Authority)
October 9, 2018, 3:27 pm
Earliest known stone carving of Hebrew word ‘Jerusalem’ found near city entrance
Unearthed in what was an artisan’s village 2.5 km from ancient Temple, inscribed column from 100 BCE features Aramaic, Hebrew, two of the languages used by Jerusalemites of the era
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Male human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis. (Gilles San Martin, CC-BY-SA, via wikipedia)
September 25, 2018, 10:38 am
A bit player in human history, the mighty louse is important — and here to stay
From the migration of early hominids to Jewish rebels at Masada, the perfectly adapted parasite is a portal in time to shed light on even the smallest of mysteries
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Microscopic traces of ancient starches extracted from the Raqefet Cave (left) are compared to the references Stanford University Prof. Li Liu and her research replicated in their beer brewing experiments. (Credit: Li Liu)
September 12, 2018, 7:18 pm
13,000-year-old brewery discovered in Israel, the oldest in the world
Ancient Natufians tamed seven species of wild grains for ancient ale, according to new Stanford University study
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
American Veterans Archaeological Recovery co-founder Stephen Humphreys (right) at the Beth Shearim Excavation, August 2018. (courtesy)
September 7, 2018, 4:09 pm
US vets combat PTSD by sifting through the past at archaeological dig in Israel
American Veterans Archaeological Recovery sends demobilized servicemen to excavate historic Beit She’arim as gateway to healing
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
An archaeologist scours the seabed off Dor Beach in northern Israel to rescue antiquities near a 5,000-year-old port ahead of the construction of a gas pipeline for the Leviathan natural gas project, September 2018. (Screen capture of footage from the Israel Antiquities Authority)
From the WebSeptember 7, 2018, 10:56 am
Under the sea, antiquities make way for Israel’s Leviathan pipeline
Underwater archaeologists are searching the seabed to preserve relics near a 5,000-year-old port that was once was a key trade hub for ancient civilizations, Reuters reports
The clay impression of a face used to seal 2,000-year-old documents was discovered in August 2018 at the Maresha excavations as part of a trove of 1,020 sealings. (Asaf Stern)
September 6, 2018, 2:28 pm
1,020 untouched clay sealings discovered after two millennia in hidden cave
A find of international significance in central Israel, the Hellenistic-era trove puts the ancient cosmopolitan city of Maresha ‘back on the map’
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Itamar Barnea, 10, with an 11,500-year-old fertility figurine he found in the Upper Galilee in 2016. Photo taken in August 2018. (Assaf Peretz/Israel Antiquities Authority)
August 30, 2018, 3:12 pm
8-year-old boy stumbled on rare 11,500-year-old fertility figurine on hike
2 years ago, Itamar Barnea, an archaeology enthusiast, pocketed an unusually shaped pebble; when his mother handed it to authorities, it was found to be an ancient statuette
By Michael Bachner
Israel Antiquities Authority professionals assess damage at the Robinson's Arch section of the Western Wall after a stone fell on July 23, 2018. (Hannah Estrin)
August 29, 2018, 7:31 pm
Still no budget for conservation at Western Wall section where boulder fell
Antiquities Authority says it’s ‘ready to get to work’ shoring up wall adjacent to egalitarian prayer area, but government isn’t transferring necessary funds
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Ossuary in Peki'in cave (Mariana Salzberger, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)
August 20, 2018, 2:48 pm
Anomalous blue-eyed people came to Israel 6,500 years ago from Iran, DNA shows
Study of bones from massive Galilee necropolis helps fill 3,000-year gap in knowledge of ancient Levant settlers
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
A view of a soap factory dating to the 19th century found during work at the new Uri Geller Museum in Jaffa. (Dlila Bar-Ratson/Israel Antiquities Authority)
August 14, 2018, 7:53 pm
Ottoman-era soap factory unearthed under Uri Geller’s Jaffa museum
Underground chambers, soap making tools found beneath building in ancient port city that will house magician’s exhibition
By TOI staff
Visitors at the ancient site of Tel Megiddo in the Lower Galilee in 2012. (Yossi Zamir/Flash 90)
From the WebAugust 8, 2018, 6:29 pm
Megiddo prison makes way for new excavations at Armageddon site
Facility to be relocated after construction works expose remains of Christian prayer hall at site of biblical apocalyptic battle, Reuters reports
The gold Hellenistic-era earring unearthed in the City of David's Givati Parking Lot excavations belonged to an upper class man or woman in Jerusalem. (Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority)
August 8, 2018, 9:11 am
Rare 2,200-year-old earring a goldmine for scholars of Hellenistic-era Jerusalem
Gold filigree animal-headed jewelry item illuminates an opaque era of Jerusalem’s history — and may reset ancient city borders
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
X marks the spot: Game boards in the games room discovered at a northern Gedera excavation. (Yoli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority)
July 31, 2018, 9:48 am
Spa and game room found at 1,700-year-old pottery workshop in Israel
Old-time work and play: With 20 hot and cold baths and a kitted-out break room, an ancient ceramics factory near Gedera could teach employee-friendly Google a thing or two
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Excavation of a 7,200-year-old level at Tel Tsaf in the Jordan Valley, July 2018. (courtesy)
July 30, 2018, 5:47 am
Dig in: Mediterranean diet first appeared in the Jordan Valley, 7,500 years ago
New research based on archaeological evidence from Tel Tsaf prehistoric site shows humans in the region ate a lot like your doctor’s heart-healthy recommendations
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
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