Category Archives: Archaeology & Politics

UPDATED | What’s Going On at the Siloam Pool?

Posted on December 30, 2022 by Tom Powers

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, on 27 DEC 2022 various Israeli government entities and settler organizations made a surprise announcement: Jerusalem’s lower Pool of Siloam is to be excavated and exposed in its entirety in the coming months, and ultimately … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiquities, Archaeology & Politics, City of David, Issues in Archaeology, Jerusalem Antiquities, Palestinians, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

5,000 Years of Jerusalem History–in Under 3 Minutes | VIDEO

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Tom Powers

OK, so there are a few gaps, and it’s a little short on details in places… BUT how would you do if presented with the same challenge? What would you include? More importantly, perhaps: What would you leave out? This … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology & Politics, For FUN (mostly), JERUSALEM, VIDEOS | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

UPDATED Going Hog Wild at Tel Shiloh

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Tom Powers

If you wondered what those millions of shekels were buying at Tel Shiloh — the massive funding, both public and private, being thrown at the site, as detailed in my previous (2012) post on this topic — the disturbing answer … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiquities, Archaeology & Politics, Israel-Palestine Scene, Issues in Archaeology, Occupied Territories, The Occupation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UPDATED | Nabi Samwil: Just beneath the surface, a thick layer of injustice

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Tom Powers

The fascinating site of Nabi Samwil is one which I’ve simply never paid enough attention to. I have been there a handful of times, know the general background, the history and archaeology, and have taken people there (by request) to … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiquities, Archaeology & Politics, Modern History, Occupied Territories, Palestinians, Resources, The Occupation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UPDATED / Herod’s Tomb in Plastic: A Learning Aid, or “Disneyland”?

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Tom Powers

Today’s Haaretz newspaper carries an article about changes afoot at the Herodion (or “Herodium”, as I prefer) national park site in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. One change — already in place — is a 4-meter-high model of the mausoleum of Herod the Great … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology & Politics, Herod the Great, Herodium, Israel-Palestine Scene, Issues in Archaeology | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Politicians + Archaeology = A Bad Mix. The Case of the Temple Purity Seal

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Tom Powers

A unique and important find connected with the rituals of the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem was announced the other day by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and quickly made the rounds of the usual media outlets. Quick out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology & Politics, Haram/ Temple Mount, Issues in Archaeology, JERUSALEM, VIDEOS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is Israeli Archaeology an “Old Boys’ Club”?

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Tom Powers

In a follow-up interview in Tuesday’s Haaretz newspaper, Benjamin Kedar, outgoing chairman of the IAA Board of Directors responds to this query, and weighs in on a host of other issues impacting archaeological thinking and practice in Israel (and Israeli-occupied East … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology & Politics, Israel-Palestine Scene, Issues in Archaeology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments