Bethsaida - The Iron Age

With Prof. Rami Arav

In 1996, and during subsequent study tours to Israel, we have visited the ruins of et-Tell, which archaeologist Rami Arav believes was the Bethsaida of the New Testament. Intriguingly, the Iron Age remains at the site seem more extensive than those of the later period. They may be 1,000 years older, and Arav believes the city was the capital of the kingdom of Geshur at that time. Geshur was the home of one of King David's wives, the mother of Absalom. During that 1996 visit I was able to sit down with Rami Arav and talk about his excavations.

tags: Bethsaida et-Tell Rami Arav Geshur Absalom

Pollen Detectives at Ramat Rachel

With Patrick Geyer

Tel Aviv University archaeologists worked with an archaeobotanist to find ancient pollen preserved in the plaster of ancient walls, to determine what plants were planted in a royal garden at Ramat Rachel, the site of a palace of the Judean Kings from Hezekiah through the Hasmonean period. The second part of this program is a 1996 interview with palynologist Patrick Geyer of the University of San Diego, on how he does his pollen research at Bethsaida and other sites.

tags: Pollen Ramat Rachel Bethsaida Patrick Geyer

The Synagogue at Huqoq

With Prof. Jodi Magness

The northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee is an area where four early Jewish synagogues are currently in the process of excavation, and two more famous synagogues are located nearby. The newest excavation began last summer at Huqoq, directed by Jodi Magness, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. What’s behind all of this attention to Galilee synagogues. Well, Jodi Magness explains the attraction for her. Tune in for a listen, and if you’re interested in volunteering for the excavation, Jodi would be glad to hear from you.

tags: Jodi Magness Synagogues Galilee Ginosar Huqoq

Stones and Dung, Oil and Spit

With Prof. Jodi Magness

Jodi Magness, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, talks about her new book, Stones and Dung, Oil and Spit, published by Eerdmans. The book is subtitled Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus and is an outgrowth of her studies of the Qumran community, among other things.

tags: Qumran Jodi Magness The Time of Jesus

Jerusalem Cardo and Samaritan Inn

With Prof. Keith Schoville

On our last Holyland Study Tour in 2008 we saw some excavations going on along the western edge of the Western Wall Plaza. We had already had reports of discoveries in that area and finally we have a report on the results of the excavation in the January-February issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. So we discussed the article on this week’s program, along with two more articles in the latest issue: the story of the Good Samaritan Inn Mosaic Museum, and possible evidence for Israel in Egypt that predates the Merneptah stele (More on that to come in the weeks ahead).

tags: Jerusalem Cardo Good Samaritan Merneptah Stele Mosaics