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archaeology in Israel
A 1951 image of the Hebrew University's Prof. Eleazar Sukenik with one of the Dead Sea Scrolls. (Department of Archaeology, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem - National Library of Israel, Schwadron collection)
April 19, 2018, 7:50 am
ToI asks the experts: What are the most important finds of Israeli archaeology?
From Dead Sea Scrolls to space-age tech, the dramatic history of the ever-developing field is indelibly entwined with that of the nation itself
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
A pupil prepares the Sanhedrin Trail as a gift to the country on the occasion of its 70th year of independence. (Israel Antiquities Authority)
April 16, 2018, 12:29 pm
1,400-year-old menorah lamp, rare coin found as kids dig trail for Israel’s 70th
Galilee's new, high-tech 70 kilometer interactive ‘Sanhedrin Trail’ is blazed on paths that were walked by great Jewish thinkers 1,900 years ago
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Pupils from Benzion Netanyahu school in the West Bank settlement of Barkan hold a piece of 1,500 pottery that was once part of an oil lamp. (courtesy)
April 9, 2018, 4:46 pm
Pupils reconstruct 1,500-year-old Holy Land life in school archaeological dig
Newly uncovered ornately decorated oil lamps served as the heart of family life during the Talmudic era
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
A student from Armstrong College holds a coin discovered at the Ophel archaeological dig outside the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, where a hoard of rare bronze coins from the Jewish Revolt was recently discovered, dating to circa 66-70CE. (Eilat Mazar)
March 26, 2018, 3:49 pm
Rare trove of bronze Jewish Revolt coins unearthed near Temple Mount
Archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar's renewed excavation in the Ophel complex uncovers hoard in cave where Jerusalem residents sought refuge during war against the Romans
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
An orthophoto created from a 3D model of an adult male (center) and adult female (bottom) during excavation of the 3,600-year-old burial cave at Megiddo. (Adam Prins and Robert S. Homsher)
March 21, 2018, 11:30 pm
Untouched for 3,600 years, ‘royal’ tomb may change what we know about Canaanites
Located at the crossroads of civilization, a Tel Megiddo burial chamber includes a diadem-bedecked male skeleton, and hints that bones did not always rest in peace
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Part of the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. (Yoli Shwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority)
March 15, 2018, 3:47 pm
Two Dead Sea Scrolls to go on display for the first time in new Denver exhibit
Israel Antiquities Authority stages massive six-month show, featuring a three-ton stone from the Western Wall and 18 other Dead Sea Scrolls
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Illustrative: A group of American Conservative and Reform rabbis and the Women of the Wall movement members hold Torah scrolls during a protest march against the government’s failure to deliver a new prayer space, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Old City, November 2, 2016. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
March 6, 2018, 3:29 pm
Chief Rabbinate should not control Western Wall’s mixed prayer section, says AG
In a response to the High Court, government says those praying at the Robinson's arch pluralistic pavilion should be protected by police
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and TOI staff
The ring found by gardener Dekel Ben-Shitrit thought to depict St. Nicholas with a bishop's crook. (Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority)
February 26, 2018, 1:27 pm
Galilee gardener digs up medieval ring bearing smiling St. Nicholas
700-year-old bronze band is emblazoned with image of patron saint of pilgrims, whose reputation for gift-giving turned him into Santa Claus in Christian West
By Sue Surkes
Isaiah bulla, a 2,700-year-old clay seal impression which may have belonged to the biblical prophet Isaiah. (Ouria Tadmor/© Eilat Mazar)
February 22, 2018, 7:00 am
In find of biblical proportions, seal of Prophet Isaiah said found in Jerusalem
Chanced upon near a seal identified with King Hezekiah, a tiny clay piece may be the first-ever proof of the prophet, though a missing letter leaves room for doubt
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Details of a 2,000-year-old Cupid cameo discovered in the City of David's Givati Parking Lot excavation in 2010. (Israel Antiquities Authority)
February 14, 2018, 2:56 pm
When Cupid paid Israel a visit, 2,000 years ago
The mischievous imp keeps popping up throughout the Holy Land
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
A rare Roman mosaic from the 2nd–3rd centuries CE, bearing an inscription in ancient Greek, uncovered in Caesarea during conservation work by the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Assaf Peretz, Israel Antiquities Authority)
February 8, 2018, 12:39 pm
Rare Greek inscription and colorful 1,800-year-old mosaic uncovered at Caesarea
Discovered during excavations under a commercial structure from the Byzantine period, the finding is hailed for its exceptionally high quality
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
New construction of a permanent pluralistic prayer platform in the Davidson Archaeological Park at the Western Wall, February 5, 2018. (The Masorti Movement in Israel)
February 5, 2018, 1:47 pm
Construction of permanent pluralistic pavilion begins at Western Wall
Although freeze of long-negotiated deal for mixed-gender prayer remains in force, government begins building enlarged space, but without key demands of liberal Jewish groups
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
This image provided by the Sharma Center for Heritage Education, India in January 2018 shows a sample of artifacts from the Middle Palaeolithic era found at the Attirampakkam archaeological site in southern India (Kumar Akhilesh, Shanti Pappu/Sharma Center for Heritage Education, India via AP)
February 1, 2018, 4:09 am
Stone tools in India suggest earlier human exit from Africa
Following Israeli jawbone discovery, new report shows Homo sapiens may have existed in Asia as far back as 385,000 years ago -- though some experts are doubtful
By AP and TOI staff
Byzantine-era pools discovered at the site of Ein Hanya, near Jerusalem, and revealed to the public on January 31, 2018. (Assaf Peretz/Israel Antiquities Authority)
January 31, 2018, 4:13 pm
First Temple-era relics of possible royal estate found in Jerusalem hills
Authorities inaugurate 'extraordinarily beautiful' new site at Ein Hanya, where archaeologists reveal plethora of findings
By Michael Bachner
Yotam Arieli (right) and his uncle Idan Avidor with the Byzantine-era jug discovered in the Beit She'an National Park. (Shmuelik Armon)
January 30, 2018, 12:51 pm
Look what the rain swept in: Families find 1,500-year-old jug during hike
Discovered near the Beit She'an National Park, intact container likely used to hold wheat and legumes for burial ritual
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
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