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TenTopBiblicalArchaeologyDiscoveries Cover ©2011BiblicalArchaeologySociety 1 TenTopBiblicalArchaeologyDiscoveries Ten Top Biblical Archaeology Discoveries Production and Design Staff: Joey Corbett – Editor Robert Bronder – Designer Susan Laden – Publisher ©2011 BiblicalArchaeologySociety 471041stStreet,NW Washington,DC20016 www.biblicalarchaeology.org ©2011BiblicalArchaeologySociety i TenTopBiblicalArchaeologyDiscoveries About the Biblical Archaeology Society The excitement of archaeology and the latest in Bible scholarship since 1974 TheBiblicalArchaeologySociety(BAS)wasfoundedin1974asanonprofit, nondenominational,educationalorganizationdedicatedtothedisseminationofinformationabout archaeologyintheBiblelands. BASeducatesthepublicaboutarchaeologyandtheBiblethroughitsbi-monthly magazine,BiblicalArchaeologyReview,anaward-winningWebsite (www.biblicalarchaeology.org),booksandmultimediaproducts(DVDs,CD-ROMsandvideos), toursandseminars.Ourreadersrelyonustopresentthelatestthatscholarshiphastoofferina fairandaccessiblemanner.BASservesasanimportantauthorityandasaninvaluablesourceof reliableinformation. Publishing Excellence BAS’sflagshippublicationisBiblicalArchaeologyReview.BARistheonlymagazinethat connectstheacademicstudyofarchaeologytoabroadgeneralaudienceeagertounderstand theworldoftheBible.CoveringboththeOldandNewTestaments,BARpresentsthelatest discoveriesandcontroversiesinarchaeologywithbreathtakingphotographyandinformative mapsanddiagrams.BAR’swritersarethetopscholars,theleadingresearchers,theworld- renownedexperts.BARistheonlynonsectarianforumforthediscussionofBiblicalarchaeology. BASproducedtwootherpublications,BibleReviewfrom1985–2005,andArchaeology Odysseyfrom1998–2006.Thecompleteeditorialcontentsofallthreemagazinesareavailable onTheBASLibrary.TheBASLibraryalsocontainsthetextoffivehighly-acclaimedbooks, AncientIsrael,AspectsofMonotheism,FeministApproachestotheBible,TheRiseofAncient IsraelandTheSearchforJesus.YearlymembershipstoTheBASLibraryareavailableto everyoneatwww.biblicalarchaeology.org/library.Thiscomprehensivecollectionofmaterialsis alsoavailabletocolleges,universities,churchesandotherinstitutionsatwww.basarchive.org. Widespread Acclaim Thesociety,itsmagazine,anditsfounderandeditorHershelShankshavebeenthe subjectofwidespreadacclaimandmediaattentioninpublicationsasdiverseasTime,People, Civilization,U.S.NewsandWorldReport,TheNewYorkTimes,TheWashingtonPostandThe JerusalemPost.BAShasalsobeenfeaturedontelevisionprogramsairedbyCNN,PBSandthe DiscoveryChannel.TolearnmoreabouttheBiblicalArchaeologySociety,goto www.biblicalarchaeology.org. ©2011BiblicalArchaeologySociety ii TenTopBiblicalArchaeologyDiscoveries Also from the Biblical Archaeology Society DoyouwanttolearnmoreabouttheamazingsitesandartifactsfeaturedinTenTopBiblical ArchaeologyDiscoveries?CheckouttheseBASproductstoseehowtheseandotherdiscoveries arechangingthewayarchaeologistsandscholarsviewtheworldoftheBible. How Archaeology Illuminates the Bible: FromthePatriarchstotheBabylonianDestruction AStudyCoursebyWilliamG.Dever DidtheIsraelitesescapeslaveryinamassexodusfromEgypt? WasthereaKingDavidwhoestablishedtheUnitedMonarchyin Jerusalem?WhatwaseverydaylifelikeinancientIsrael?World- renownedarchaeologistWilliamG.Deverexaminestheseimportant topicsandothersinHowArchaeologyIlluminatestheBible,an eight-partserieshecreatedexclusivelyfortheBiblicalArchaeology Society.Alongtheway,hediscussestheTelDanstela,Jerusalem’sStepped-StoneStructure andtheKuntillet‘Ajrudinscriptions,discoveriesthathaveradicallytransformedscholarly understandingsofancientIsraelitehistoryandsociety.Ifyou’relookingforacomprehensive introductiontoarchaeologyandtheHebrewBible,looknofurther! Moreinformationat: http://store.bib-arch.org/How-Archaeology-Illuminatesbr_-the-Bible/productinfo/9HLD1/ TheLectures -AnOrientationtoBiblicalArchaeology:History,AimsandMethods -PatriarchsandMatriarchs:HistoryorFiction? -WhoWeretheEarlyIsraelites,andWhereDidTheyComeFrom? -TheRiseoftheIsraeliteState:the“UnitedMonarchy” -ReligionandCult:OneGodorMany? -EverydayLifeinBiblicalTimes -Israel’sNeighborsintheLightofRecentArchaeologicalResearch -TheAssyrianandBabylonianDestructions:TheEndortheBeginning? DVD,3disks,Totalrunningtime:6hours,30minutes,$99.95 ©2011BiblicalArchaeologySociety iii TenTopBiblicalArchaeologyDiscoveries Dirt, Bones, Potsherds and Stones: ArchaeologistsProbetheGalileeintheHellenisticandRoman Periods AStudyCoursebyJamesF.Strange Everyoccupationoflandinanyperiodleavesitshumanimprint. Whatlooksatfirsttobeachaoticscatterofbitsandpieceswithin archaeologicaltrenchescanresolveitselfintosettlementpatterns, architecture,humanmovement,dedicationofspacetospecialuses, andeventhescopeandlayoutofacity.Inthisseriesoftenlectures byrenownedNewTestamentarchaeologistJamesF.Strange,you willlearnhowarchaeologistsmaketheirinferencesandexaminekeyquestionsrelatedtothe worldoftheGospels.WasthereanearlyChristiansanctuaryatCapernaum,wheresomebelieve St.Peter’shousehasbeenfound?HowcentraltoGalileanlifewasSepphoris,wherethefamed “MonaLisaoftheGalilee”mosaicwasdiscovered?Howdowerecognizeancientsynagogues withoutinscriptionsorJewishsymbols? Moreinformationat: http://store.bib-arch.org/Dirt-Bones-Potsherds-and-Stones/productinfo/9HLP4/ TheLectures -The“HouseofSt.Peter”atCapernaum -TheEarliestSynagogueBuildingsinIsrael -WhatDoesthisBuildingInviteMetoDo? -TheCaseofNazareth:AJewishChristianCenter? -SettlementofGalileeintheMaccabeantoRomanPeriod -TheRecoveryofJudaismandtheResettlementofGalileeafter135C.E. -TheCaseofSepphoris:AMajorCityinGalilee -TheArchaeologyof“JewishChristianity” -TheTombofJesusinTalpiot -IsanArchaeologyofthePhariseesPossible? DVD,3disks,Totalrunningtime:7hours,57minutes,$99.95 ©2011BiblicalArchaeologySociety iv TenTopBiblicalArchaeologyDiscoveries Table of Contents VI Introduction 1 The Nag Hammadi Library Nag Hammadi Codices Shed New Light on Early Christian History by James Brashler 12 The 'Ain Dara Temple The New 'Ain Dara Temple: Closest Solomonic Parallel by John Monson 31 The Tel Dan ("David") Stela "David" Found at Dan 47 Mona Lisa of the Galilee Mosaic Masterpiece Dazzles Sepphoris Volunteers 52 "Yahweh and His Asherah": The Kuntillet 'Ajrud Ostraca Did Yahweh Have a Consort? by Ze'ev Meshel 68 St. Peter's House Has the House Where Jesus Stayed in Capernaum Been Found? by James F. Strange and Hershel Shanks 86 The Siloam Pool The Siloam Pool: Where Jesus Cured the Blind Man by Hershel Shanks 94 Ashkelon's Arched Gate When Canaanites and Philistines Ruled Ashkelon by Lawrence E. Stager 118 Jerusalem's Stepped-Stone Structure Jerusalem in David and Solomon's Time by Jane Cahill West 137 Jerusalem's Babylonian Siege Tower Found in Jerusalem: Remains of the Babylonian Siege by Suzanne F. Singer 142 The Authors 143 Notes ©2011BiblicalArchaeologySociety v TenTopBiblicalArchaeologyDiscoveries Introduction ThiseBook,developedbytheeditorsattheBiblicalArchaeologySociety,featurestenof themostimportantandexcitingarchaeologicalfindscoveredinthepagesofBiblicalArchaeology Review(BAR)overthepastthreeandahalfdecades.Itisbynomeansanexclusivelist;others wouldperhapsmakedifferentselectionsfortheirtopten.Takentogether,these“topdiscoveries,” fromthenearly4,000-year-oldarchedgateofAshkelontothelostfourth-centuryC.E. manuscriptsofNagHammadi,offeraminicourseinBiblicalarchaeology. ThiseBookincludestheoriginalBARarticlesinwhichthefindswerepublished,many authoredbytoday’smostprominentBiblicalarchaeologists.Theirarticlesnotonlyhighlightthe historicalandBiblicalsignificanceofthesedramaticdiscoveries,butalsoplacethemintheir appropriatearchaeologicalcontext.In“WhenCanaanitesandPhilistinesRuledAshkelon,”for example,LawrenceStagerprovidesathoroughoverviewoftheportcity’sextensiveBronzeand IronAgeremains,includingthemassivewallsandrampartsthroughwhichpassedtheworld’s oldestarchedgateway.Similarlyin“TheSiloamPool,”BAReditorHershelShanksdetailsthe recentdiscoveryofamonumental,first-centuryC.E.JerusalempoolthatfunctionedasaJewish ritualbath(miqveh)andmayhavebeentheplacewhereJesuscuredtheblindman(John9). Inthesearticles,youwillalsolearnhowthemostimportantarchaeologicaldiscoveries areoftenmadecompletelybyaccident.In“‘David’FoundatDan,”you’llreadhowGilaCook,an archaeologicalsurveyorworkingatthesiteofTelDaninnorthernIsrael,accidentallystumbled acrossaninscribedstonecontainingthefirsthistoricalreferencetoKingDavidoutsidetheBible. Likewise,inJamesBrashler’sarticleontheNagHammadicodices,you’lllearnhowthis invaluablecollectionoffourth-centuryC.E.Gnosticwritingsandlostgospelswasfoundnotby archaeologists,butratherbytwofarmerslookingforfertilizeralongthebanksoftheNile. Wehopethiscollectionofarticlesnotonlyallowsyoutodivedeeperintotheworldofthe Biblicalarchaeology,butalsoreflectontheamazingdiscoveriesthataremadeintheBiblical landsyearafteryear. JoeyCorbett AssistantEditor,BiblicalArchaeologySociety 2011 ©2011BiblicalArchaeologySociety vi TenTopBiblicalArchaeologyDiscoveries The Nag Hammadi Library Nag Hammadi Codices Shed New Light on Early Christian History By James Brashler InstituteforAntiquityandChristianity,Claremont,California TheNagHammaditextswerecontainedin13leather-boundvolumes,orcodices, discoveredbyEgyptianfarmersin1945.Datedpapyrusscrapsusedtostrengthenthe bindingsofthebookshelpeddatethevolumestothemid-fourthcenturyC.E.Thelibrary containsmorethan50texts,ortractates,thatexploretheviewsofahereticalChristian sectknownastheGnostics,whowereinconflictwithorthodoxChristianauthorities. ©2011BiblicalArchaeologySociety 1 TenTopBiblicalArchaeologyDiscoveries CourtesyoftheNagHammadiArchiveoftheInstituteforAntiquityandChristianity Papyrus-linedcoverofCodexVII.ThecoversoftheNagHammadiCodicesnotonly preservedthe1,240pagesoftexts,keepingmostofthemintactafter1,600years,butthey alsoprovidedakeytodatingthisarchaeologicaltreasure:Eachleathercoverwas stiffenedbylayersofpapyrus.Manyofthesepapyriwerethediscardedpersonaland businessdocumentsofmonksfromthenearbyPachomianmonasteriesandoften containedspecificnamesanddates.Thisparticularcodexcoverwasmadeinpartfrom businessdocumentsbelongingtoamonknamedSasnos,whohadchargeofthe monasteryherds.Thesedocumentsrefertotheyears333,341and348,indicatingthat codexVIIwasputtogetherinthemiddleofthefourthcentury. ItisalongwayfromtheNileValleyofEgypttothefrontpageofTheNewYorkReviewof BooksbutthefascinatingstoryofTheGnosticGospels(RandomHouse,1979)byElainePagels hastraveledthatfar. Bookswrittenbygoodscholarsseldomachievebestsellerstatus.Whenthebookis aboutalittle-knowncollectionofmanuscriptsassociatedwithhereticalreligioussectsandwritten inadeadlanguagethatfewpeoplehaveevenheardof,bestsellerstatusisevenmore remarkable.ItisatributetotheskillandingenuityofProfessorElainePagels(witha“g”asin gelatin),formerlyofBarnardCollegeandnowonthefacultyofPrincetonUniversity,thatherbook TheGnosticGospelshasbeensowellreceivedbythepublishingestablishmentandthereading public.SummarizedinaseriesofarticlesinTheNewYorkReviewofBooks,offeredasaBook- of-the-MonthClubalternateselection,andtranslatedintoseveralotherlanguages,herbookisa lucidlywrittenaccountofthesignificanceoftheCopticGnostic1documentsfoundin1945near NagHammadi,Egypt. ©2011BiblicalArchaeologySociety 2 TenTopBiblicalArchaeologyDiscoveries MapshowinglocationofNagHammadi. ThestorybehindthediscoveryandeventualpublicationoftheNagHammadi manuscriptshasalltheingredientsofaspythriller.Thediscoverers,MohammedAliandhis brotherKhalifah,livedinavillagenamedel-KasrinUpperEgypt.Whilediggingformineral-rich soilatthebaseofthecliffsalongtheNilenearthevillageofHomraDom,theydiscoveredalarge sealedpotteryjar.Hopingforburiedtreasure,theybrokeopenthejaronlytofindacollectionof oldbookswritteninalanguagetheycouldnotread.Theycarriedthebooksbacktotheirhome, wheretheirmotherreportedlyusedsomeofthepagestolightthefireinheroven. Notlongafterthediscoveryofthemanuscripts,itwasrumoredthatMohammedAliand hisbrothersmurderedthesonofthesheriffofHomraDominreprisalforthedeathoftheirfather somesixmonthsearlier.OneresultofthisfeudwasthatMohammedAliwasafraidtoreturnto thesiteofthediscovery.Fearingthatthebookswouldbefoundbythepolice,MohammedAli placedtheminthecareofaCopticpriest.Thepriestgaveonetoarelative,whobroughtitto Cairo.Therestofthebooksweregraduallysoldtootherresidentsofthevillageforsmallsumsof money,andtheyinturnsoldthemanuscriptstoantiquitiesdealersinCairo. ©2011BiblicalArchaeologySociety 3