Looting apprehension yields an ancient stone workshop

APPREHENDED: While capturing thieves: Ancient stone vessel production facility uncovered in Jerusalem. Large stone tool workshop from the Second Temple period, which produced tools for Jews some 2,000 years ago, uncovered in a cave on the eastern slopes of Mount Scopus in Jerusalem (Israel National News).

After capturing the suspects, Israel Antiquities Authority inspectors searched the cave. To their amazement, they discovered hundreds of unique stone vessel fragments.

That was lucky.

I have noted the discovery of stone vessel workshops in the Galilee here and one on the West Bank here.

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The Phoenicians at Nora

PHOENICIAN WATCH: This ancient city in Sardinia was home to pirates—and is an archaeology lover’s dream. Nora doesn’t have the name recognition—or crowds—of Pompeii. But the well-preserved coastal settlement offers travelers a rare glimpse into the lives of the pirates, Vandals, Romans, Phoenicians, and Carthaginians who once laid claim to it (Hannah Singleton, National Geographic).

Perched at the edge of a narrow peninsula in southern Sardinia, the ancient city of Nora is exposed to the elements. Wind, sun, salty air, and for centuries, even pirates. From every vantage point of the port city, residents and visitors can take in views of the Mediterranean Sea, which made Nora a thriving trade hub during the 8th century B.C. ...

What makes Nora special is what’s happening beneath your feet. Since it was unearthed in 1952, archaeologists have continued to excavate the site’s historic connections to Romans, Phoenicians, and Carthaginians. Some of the artifacts from the site (like an inscribed stone known as the Nora Stele) are on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Cagliari.

For a possible connection between the Phoenician Nora Stone Inscription and the biblical site (?) of Tarshish, see here. And there are other Phoenician remains at Nora.

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Carol and Eric Meyers

PROFILE: Duke professors found each other, then they found the world’s oldest Torah ark (Sarah Diaz, The Duke Chronicle).

Duke relationships are often formed from late-night study sessions or evenings out at a party. However, for Carol and Eric Meyers, two prominent Duke professors emerita in the field of biblical archaeology, love emerged less conventionally.

[...]

I remember that iconic Raiders send-up photo!

Both Meyerses have appeared often in PaleoJudaica. See the archive search engine.

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