1221 - Solomonic Wall in Jerusalem?

The day after we did our interviews with professor James Hardin on the 10th century problem (programs 1219 & 1220) and the archaeology related to Jerusalem in the time of David and Solomon, Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar announced the discovery of a wall in Jerusalem that she credited to the reign of Solomon.

So in this program professor Keith Schoville and I discuss the discovery as well as some questions that have been raised about the discovery. It's a perfect example of the debate over the 10th century problem and it will be interesting to see if the identification sticks, as more and more archaeologists take a look at the evidence.

We also spend a few minutes discussing reports of vanishing 3,000-year old timbers on the Temple Mount. An archaeologist who has studied timbers used in Temple Mount construction says some of them date back to the time of of David and Saul. But after his work was published, the timbers have disappeared.

1219-1220 - James Hardin and the 10th Century Problem

What does the lack of archaeological evidence for 10th century B.C. Jerusalem have to say about the reigns of David and Solomon, which were supposed to have taken place at that time? That's one of the issues that archaeologists have been arguing about for the past decade or two. James Hardin, a professor at Southern Mississippi State University, takes some time to explain why the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, as the saying goes.

BREAKING NEWS - The details of our planned 2011 Book & The Spade Holyland Archaeological Study Tour are now out in a preliminary form. You can get that information by going here. We'd love to have you join us.

1218 - Shrouded Hinnom Burial

Back around 2000 archaeologist Shimon Gibson made one of the most intriguing archaeological discoveries of the last decade, a 2,000-year old shrouded corpse in a tomb in Jerusalem's Hinnom Valley. There was no news release at the time, Gibson wanted some research done on the remains first. Now, finally, the results of the investigation into this shrouded 2,000-year old burial are finally being released. That's the topic on this episode: some new information about leprosy in Bible times and a new perspective on the Shroud of Turin.

1217 Jaffa Gate Excavations

Archaeologists have been working on the street just inside the Jaffa Gate on the west side of the Old City of Jerusalem. On this week's program we discuss their findings: remains of a Byzantine street and a Herodian aqueduct. We also spend some time discussing the Byzantine period, when Christians ruled the Holyland.

We've talked in the past about some of the exciting new discoveries in the City of David area of Jerusalem. This week CBN News has a report on two developments which we have discussed previously.