Amanda Borschel-Dan

Amanda Borschel-Dan is The Times of Israel's Jewish World and Archaeology editor.

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

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

Archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar and several of her prominent finds. (Hebrew University/Ouria Tadmor)

May 26, 2021, 8:22 pm

Fearless pioneering biblical archaeologist Eilat Mazar dies at 64

Hebrew University scholar who unearthed ‘King David’s palace’ leaves a lasting contribution to the understanding of the archaeology and history of ancient Israel and Jerusalem

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Sharks swimming in the shark aquarium in the southern Israeli city of Eilat. October 7, 2014. (FLASH90/File)

May 25, 2021, 7:00 am

Bad Judeans? Despite biblical ban, non-kosher fish were eaten in ancient Israel

Unlike prohibition on pork, ban on scaleless, finless fish – found twice in the Torah – was apparently not observed. New project looks at origins of Judaism as a religious practice

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Sieving finds at the entrance to Muraba‘at Cave. (Yoli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority)

March 16, 2021, 5:26 pm

Dead Sea scroll discovery brings tantalizing prospect of more yet to be found

With another 20 promising caves to be excavated — and 25% more of the Judean Desert still to be surveyed — stunning finds in Cave of Horror unlikely to be the last

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Archaeologists Hagay Hamer and Oriah Amichai sieving finds at the entrance to the Cave of Horror. (Eitan Klein, Israel Antiquities Authority)

March 16, 2021, 9:00 am

Bible scroll fragments among dazzling artifacts found in Dead Sea Cave of Horror

Parts of books of Nahum and Zechariah, world’s oldest woven basket, 6,000-year-old mummified child, Bar Kochba Revolt coins among stunning finds from daring Judean Desert rescue op

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Destruction to a low stone early Iron Age wall at the Mount Ebal archaeological site, January 31, 2021. (Courtesy, Shomrim Al Hanetzach)

February 22, 2021, 12:11 pm

Settlers take on West Bank archaeology as ancient ‘Joshua’ wall tumbles down

Destruction of barrier at Iron Age Israelite cultic site deep in PA-controlled Area B creates media maelstrom, as right-wing campaign claims Palestinians destroying heritage sites

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Fragment of the rare purple fabric from 1,000 BCE excavated in the Timna Valley. (Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority)

January 28, 2021, 9:42 pm

Ancient cloth with Bible’s purple dye found in Israel, dated to King David’s era

3 scraps from 1,000 BCE, earliest such finds in region, point to Edomite kingdom described in Bible; vibrant and lasting ‘royal’ dye, mark of the elite, comes from murex sea snails

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Swedish composer Jacob Mühlrad. (Andre Garcia)

January 25, 2021, 3:43 pm

29-year-old composer releases ‘Kaddish’ for survivor grandfather on top label

In new a cappella choral work, Swedish art music composer Jacob Mühlrad holds a dialogue with his deceased grandfather, using his harrowing testimony and texts by Elie Wiesel

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

A late 5th century CE Greek inscription, 'Christ born of Mary,' recently found in the village of et-Taiyiba (Taibe) in the Jezreel Valley. (Tzachi Lang/Israel Antiquities Authority)

January 20, 2021, 2:35 pm

‘Christ born of Mary’: 1st proof of early Christianity found in Galilee village

Greek inscription provides evidence of a hitherto-unknown 5th century Byzantine-era church; the find ‘closes a circle’ on Christian settlement in small Jezreel Valley village Taibe

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Father Francesco Patton, the Custos of the Holy Land, leads mass on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, at St John the Baptist Chapel on the banks of the Jordan River, January 10, 2021. (COGAT Spokeperson's Office)

January 10, 2021, 10:21 pm

With landmines cleared, church on Jordan River holds 1st mass in 54 years

Baptism of the Lord on January 10 celebrated with 50 priests, guests, and soldiers, at the Franciscan St. John the Baptist Chapel

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

The Times of Israel Podcast presents the Best of 2020. (Images courtesy/ iStock photo)

January 1, 2021, 10:42 am

Pop in your earbuds, it’s the top 5 Times of Israel podcasts from 2020

From Uganda to the Arava Desert, to our own homes under lockdown, the ToI’s weekly podcast has brought listeners an eclectic play list this year

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

David Yeger, director of the excavation at Gethsemane in Jerusalem, in the Byzantine church. (Yoli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority)

December 31, 2020, 1:16 am

As COVID hit, archaeologists turned to futuristic labs to dig up ancient history

From dental tartar studies to the use of police forensics techniques and AI to discern which scribe wrote the Bible, cutting-edge science beat out shovels for uncovering the past

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Illustrative: A young devotee, face smeared with turmeric powder, participates in a procession towards Golconda Fort during Bonalu festival in Hyderabad, India, July 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

December 22, 2020, 11:53 am

‘Globalized’ early Bronze Age Levantines consumed exotic Asian nosh, study shows

Analysis of dental tartar from skeletons excavated at Megiddo and Tel Erani shows first evidence in region from 2nd millennium BCE of foods such as bananas, soy beans, turmeric

By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Second Temple-era ritual bath that was discovered during construction work on a modern tunnel under the 1920 Catholic Church of All Nations. (Yaniv Berman, Israel Antiquities Authority)

December 21, 2020, 10:31 pm

Ancient ritual bath may mark first New Testament-era find at Jesus’ Gethsemane

Olive grove where Jesus spent a night of agony, accepted his betrayal, and was arrested ahead of his crucifixion has until now had no physical link to Second Temple era

By Amanda Borschel-Dan