archaeology

Articulated pig skeleton as found in City of David excavation. (Oscar Bejerano, Israel Antiquities Authority)

July 15, 2021, 3:20 pm

This little piggy went to Jerusalem 2,700 years ago, raising some questions

Bones of small pig pulled out of home being excavated in City of David, adding to rare, but not nonexistent, series of finds showing Judeans did occasionally ham it up

By TOI staff

The excavation directors sitting on the exposed section of the First Temple-era protective wall on Jerusalem's eastern perimeter. (Yaniv Berman/ Israel Antiquities Authority)

July 14, 2021, 1:19 pm

First Temple-era walls, razed in biblical account, found unbreached in Jerusalem

Missing section of 8th-7th century BCE fortification puts in question narrative of 2 Kings in which conquering Babylonians ‘tore down Jerusalem’s walls on every side’

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Top: a coin from around 134-135 CE found in Wadi Rashash. Bottom: a coin from around 67-68 CE found at Khirbat Jib’it. Background: Wadi Rashash in the West Bank. (Tal Rogovsky, Yechezkel Blumstein / courtesy)

July 13, 2021, 12:25 pm

2,000-year-old coins hailing ‘freedom’ of Zion, Jerusalem uncovered in West Bank

Bar-Ilan University archaeologists find Great Revolt coin at Khirbat Jib’it and one from Bar-Kokhba Revolt in nearby cliffs, indicating Jewish presence further north than thought

By TOI staff

Medical technicians test passengers for COVID-19 at the Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on July 12, 2021. (Flash90)

July 12, 2021, 2:55 pm

Daily Briefing July 12 – As COVID numbers rise, is it time to get nervous yet?

Tune in Sunday through Thursday to hear ToI editors and reporters quickly catch you up on what’s important today

By TOI staff

The 'Jerubbaal' inscription, written in ink on a pottery vessel, discovered at Khirbet el Rai. (Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority)

July 12, 2021, 12:31 pm

Five-letter inscription inked 3,100 years ago may be name of biblical judge

Excavations in Judean foothills uncover small jug from 1,100 BCE that could be inscribed with ‘Jerubbaal’; first evidence of a name from Book of Judges on a contemporary artifact

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

July 8, 2021, 1:51 pm

Daily Briefing July 8 – Herzog’s hope: What the new president wants to achieve

Tune in Sunday through Thursday to hear ToI editors and reporters quickly catch you up on what’s important today

Remains of the magnificent 2000-year-old building recently excavated and due to be opened to the public as part of the Western Wall Tunnels Tour in Jerusalem's Old City. (Yaniv Berman/Israel Antiquities Authority)

July 8, 2021, 11:51 am

Opulent 2,000-year-old ‘city hall’ unearthed near Western Wall in Jerusalem

One of the most significant public buildings from the Second Temple period ever uncovered; new pathways in Western Wall Tunnels provide 2nd life to underground ancient Jerusalem

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Cold and refreshing watermelon (photo credit: Abir Sultan/Flash 90)

July 5, 2021, 5:25 pm

Red origin: New study traces roots of summer fave watermelon, mentioned in Bible

In Numbers 11: 5-6, the freed Hebrews, fed on a manna-only diet, lament the rich variety of food they gave up in leaving Egypt — including watermelon

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

A visitor looks at the underground area inside the Colosseum in Rome on June 25, 2021 (Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

June 26, 2021, 4:26 am

Colosseum’s underground labyrinth opened to public for first time

A new pathway offers intimate views of ‘backstage’ area where gladiators and beasts waited, before being released into the arena to meet their fate

By Alexandria SAGE

This undated image provided by Tel Aviv University in June 2021 shows a virtual reconstruction of a human ancestor mandible found in Nesher Ramla. (Ariel Pokhojaev, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University via AP)

June 24, 2021, 9:01 pm

Fossils found in Israel are ‘last survivors’ of ‘missing’ type of extinct humans

Researchers say ‘Nesher Ramla Homo’ may have lived alongside Homo sapiens for over 100,000 years, and may have interbred with our species

By CHRISTINA LARSON

Prehistorian Dr. Omry Barzilai with a flint tool from 50,000-year-old Boker Tachtit. (Israel Antiquities Authority)

June 18, 2021, 10:08 am

Podcast: 50,000 years ago, early man and Neanderthals had their first date

Israel Antiquities Authority prehistorian Omry Barzilai puts a human face on early man, who he claims evidence shows was a lot like us

By TOI staff

June 14, 2021, 10:37 pm

Prehistoric man lived with and loved Neanderthals in the Negev 50,000 years ago

Using precision carbon dating and secure archaeological contexts, researchers have proof for the first time of when the two cultures overlapped — and where

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Tel Tsaf rounded silos. (Boaz Garfinkel/Hebrew University)

June 10, 2021, 8:45 pm

7,000-year-old seal impression marks prehistoric site as early trade hub

A twice-stamped little ancient blob of clay discovered in Tel Tsaf — alongside other evidence — leads researchers to deduce a millennia-old complex mercantile exchange

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

In this handout photo from June 10, 2021, scuba divers with an ancient stone anchor that was found at the Tel Dor archaeological site in northern Israel. (Amir Yurman of the University of Haifa's Maritime Workshop)

June 10, 2021, 12:12 pm

Ancient stone anchor used for 2,000 years found on Israel’s northern coast

Parks authority says the artifact, uncovered in an underwater dig at Tel Dor, was first used in the Bronze Age

By TOI staff

Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Alla Nagorsky with the 1,000-year-old egg that was retrieved in Yavne.  (Yoli Schwartz/Israel Antiquities Authority)

June 9, 2021, 10:32 am

Preserved in poop: 1,000-year-old chicken egg found in Yavne cesspit

Archaeologists discover almost fully intact but nearly empty egg and three rare Islamic-period bone dolls in excavation of settlement dating from Byzantine period

By Amy Spiro