Category Archives: Issues in Archaeology

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

UPDATED | What’s an Arts and Crafts Retail Chain Doing Dabbling in Antiquities???

Posted on July 6, 2017 by Tom Powers

Hobby Lobby To Forfeit Smuggled Iraqi Antiquities by RICHARD GONZALES, NPR / July 5, 2017 Hobby Lobby, the Oklahoma-based chain of arts and crafts retail stores, has agreed to pay a $3 million fine and forfeit thousands of ancient clay … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiquities, Israel-Palestine Scene, Issues in Archaeology | Tagged , , , , , | 1 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

“Afghanistan” in Israel: Ultra-Orthodox severely damage Hamat Tiberias mosaic

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Tom Powers

Vandals attacked the ancient synagogue mosaic floor of Hamat Tiberias Monday night, causing severe and perhaps irreparable damage. The synagogue lies within a national park site on the southern outskirts of the modern city of Tiberias, on the western shore … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiquities, Archaeology, Galilee, Israel-Palestine Scene, Issues in Archaeology, PHOTOS | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Exodus from Egypt: IAA nabs ancient coffin lids in Jerusalem antiquities shops

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Tom Powers

Here’s a new twist — or is it? Looted antiquities being smuggled into Israel in order to acquire legitimacy, so they can then be resold to collectors in the context of Israel’s “legal”, licensed antiquities trade. In this case it was two ancient and highly … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiquities, Israel-Palestine Scene, Issues in Archaeology, JERUSALEM, Occupied Territories | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Haaretz interview with archaeologist Ronny Reich

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Tom Powers

I was putting the finishing touches on this installment when I saw Todd Bolen’s post in my inbox pointing folks to a very interesting interview with antiquities collector Oded Golan published today in the “Week’s End” section of Haaretz. Noted also was … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, City of David, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Issues in Archaeology, JERUSALEM, Jerusalem Antiquities, Jerusalem People, Politics | 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