1160-1161 The 2009 Excavation Season

One of our longest running traditions is our annual review of plans for the upcoming excavation season. The Biblical Archaeology Review compiles a list of excavations every year. They used to print the list in their January-February issue, but now they have a website where the list is made available, findadig.com.

We always encourage our listeners to consider experiencing an excavation first hand. Archaeology is one of the few scientific disciplines that relies on the contributed labor of ordinary men and women. And therefore, some of the biggest discoveries are made by ordinary men and women, although usually it gets credited to the head archaeologist who announces the discovery.

Some interesting excavations are planned for the year ahead. Who knows what great discoveries lie ahead? A year ago we were hardly aware of the excavation at Khirbet Qeiyafa. Now we're calling it one of the most important excavations of the decade.

1159 - Herod's Tomb Update, Sepphoris Temple and Magdalan Vases

More information for our radio listeners on recent stories of Biblical Archaeology in the news. We lead off with reports from archaeologist Ehud Netzer, revealing more information from the ongoing excavations at Herod's Tomb at Herodion, just outside Bethlehem. (Shown, Netzer admiring the Roman-style fresco from a structure that preceded the tomb's emplacement on the Herodion hillside.)

Other reports include: a Roman temple discovery in downtown Sepphoris, the ruins of a major city just over the hill from tiny Nazareth; sealed vases containing gooey remains of ancient substances found in Magdala, the ancient home town of Mary Magdalene, a sarcophagus fragment from the tomb of the son of a high priest, and restoration completed on the Tomb of Cyrus. Yes, we cover all of these stories, in an attempt to bring you up-to-date information on all of the new discoveries and developments in Biblical Archaeology. I'm joined by my co-host professor Keith Schoville, discussing these discoveries and reminiscing of our visits to many of these locations during last year's Book & the Spade Tour.

1158 - Jerusalem Water Tunnel & Temple Tax coin discoveries

It's been a long time since Professor Schoville and I sat down to discuss the latest discoveries and developments. Not since last summer actually, because of a number of timely interviews that have been featured since then. So we have a lot of catching up to do. On today's program we cover several more of the announcements made at the end of last October, as well as even more recent developments: A Jerusalem Water Tunnel, A Hasmonean City Wall excavation, a half-shekel coin used for the Temple Tax and the latest discovery of a seal with a Biblical name (pictured).