BHR-16
Brit-Am Historical Reports
1 October 2009 14 Tishrei 5769
Contents:
1. Archaeology: Brit-Am Version of Explorator 12.22
2. 2,000 Year Old Miqve (Ritual Bath); Discovered in Western Wall Tunnels
3. Some Massada Finds Displayed
4. Archaeology: Brit-Am Version of Explorator 12.23
5. New Find Anglo Gold and Silver Implements: Fantastic Wealth
|
Brit-Am Discussion Group 
|
Contents by Subject |
Research Recognition Reconciliation Contribute |
|
Site Map Contents in Alphabetical Order |
 This Site |
1. Archaeology: Brit-Am Version of Explorator 12.22
From: david meadows <rogueclassicist@gmail.com>
================================================================
explorator 12.22 September 20, 2009
================================================================
================================================================
EARLY HUMANS
================================================================
Using DNA to figure out the differences between homo sapiens and
Neanderthals:
http://www.physorg.com/news172567188.html
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Are animal burials from Hierakonpolis from a 'private zoo'?:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/photogalleries/animal-tombs-ancient-egypt-missions/index.html
Interesting 'cemetery' find in Tartous (Syria):
http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/200909122670/Culture/archaeological-findings-a-mass-cemetery-carved-in-rocks-discovered-in-syria.html
Plenty of coverage of the (re)discovery of a road being touted
as being used by "pilgrims" to reach the Second Temple:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804589977&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=1114352
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1114246.html
http://jta.org/news/article/2009/09/14/1007828/second-temple-road-uncovered-in-jerusalem
http://www.antiquities.org.il/about_eng.asp?Modul_id=14
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/39903/second-temple-road-uncovered/
http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/second_temple_road_uncovered_in_jerusalem_20090916/
http://blogs.news.sky.com/middleeastblog/Post:0c9175d1-eaf3-488b-90de-34023f7d5126
(video)
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133405
A series of interviews about that recent Bar Kokhba revolt coin
find:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Radio/News.aspx/1393 (all on one page)
http://www.foundationstone.org/page42/page49/files/sept9eve2r1.mp3
http://www.foundationstone.org/page42/page49/files/sept9eve3r.mp3
http://www.foundationstone.org/page42/page49/files/sept9eve2ar.mp3
More coverage of the coin find:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090909095100.htm
http://www.speroforum.com/a/20453/Coins-from-BarKokhba-revolt-found-in-Israel
A followup to that story about the Nuremberg Mahzor:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804596496&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
A major cult complex has been found at Peperikon (not sure about
the 'Minoan' connection being suggested):
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=107916
Analyzing Arminius' victory:
http://www.nujournal.com/page/content.detail/id/509454.html
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=416997
http://www.kttc.com/global/story.asp?s=11157237
... and reenacting it in three minutes:
http://www.mankatofreepress.com/local/local_story_262003633.html
An amphitheatre has been discovered/excavated near Tiberias:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=1115642>
More coverage of those Aphrodites from Susita ... now with a
'pagan resistance' spin attached:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090914/sc_livescience/ancientaphroditefigureshintatpaganresistance
http://www.newswise.com/articles/hidden-figurines-of-aphrodite-of-roman-empire-era-discovered-in-hippos?page=1&search%5Bstatus%5D=3&search%5Bsort%5D=date+desc&search%5Bhas_multimedia%5D=
http://www.livescience.com/history/090914-aphrodite-statues.html
http://www.physorg.com/news172140716.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090914111003.htm
http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-112401.html
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
Far, far too much coverage for the suggestion that assorted
Neolithic landmarks in the UK were part of some ancient 'sat-nav'
system:
http://www.physorg.com/news172480666.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1213400/Ancient-man-used-stone-sat-nav-navigate-country.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6189320/Prehistoric-man-used-crude-sat-nav.html
http://gizmodo.com/5359195/ancient-man-used-stone-sat-nav-5000-years-ago
A Bronze Age site from the Highlands:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8261343.stm
Finds from the early kingdom of Kent are going on display:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/8258363.stm
Revisionism for Dr John Dee:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/sep/20/scholars-rescue-image-john-dee
Nice feature on Denmark's Iron Age Experimental Centre:
http://www.cphpost.dk/culture/denmark-through-the-looking-glass/46869-back-to-basics-4000-years-ago-in-denmark.html
================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
================================================================
Feature on the Indus Valley civilization:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/sci-tech/18-indus-valley-civilisation-who-were-they-am-04
Evidence that the first Europeans in Australia settled in Redcliffe:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/09/16/2688191.htm
Fredrik Ebert was talking about assorted Afghan artifacts:
http://www.dailyfreepress.com/archaeologist-tells-of-rediscovered-afghan-treasures-1.1878179
Arguing over the origins of Batik:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/world/asia/15iht-batik.html
================================================================
NORTH AMERICA
================================================================
Excerpt from John Keegan, *The American Civil War*:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/6199297/The-American-Civil-War-the-gruesome-suffering-of-soldiers-exposed.html
Review of Lacy Ford, *Deliver Us From Evil*:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Berlin-t.html
================================================================
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
================================================================
Feature on the Aztec Empire:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/17/brief-history-aztec-empire
What dinosaurs and the Maya have in common:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090911210024.htm
================================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
================================================================
Latest in the Odyssey Marine saga:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/sep/18/hms-victory-shipwreck-artefacts
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/fla_explorers_uk_reach_agreeme.html
Feature on Arthur Tudor:
http://www.physorg.com/news172423093.html
The nine weirdest things at Yale:
http://www.yaledailynews.com/scene/scene-cover/2009/09/18/nine-weirdest-things-yale/
On the DNA front, recent research is suggesting some revisionism is
necessary for the Cohanim lineage:
http://www.physorg.com/news172414735.html
Russian is on the decline (or is it?):
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/weekinreview/13levy.html
Studying ancient man to learn to prevent disease:
http://www.physorg.com/news172251831.html
================================================================
EXHIBITIONS, AUCTIONS, AND MUSEUM-RELATED
================================================================
Vale Viking Hoard:
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/4636347.Vale_of_York_Viking_Hoard_goes_on_show_at_the_Yorkshire_Museum_in_York/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8257958.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/uk_news/8254865.stm
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/4630884.Viking_treasures_to_go_on_show_at_Yorkshire_Museum/
Feature on Dutch Antiques in New York:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/arts/design/18antiques.html
Tasmania's Aborigines want possession of the Truganini bust
of an Aboriginal woman:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/16/tasmania-aborigines-ancestors-repatriation
2. 2,000 Year Old Miqve (Ritual Bath) Discovered in Western Wall Tunnels
(a) Press Release
September 23, 2009
In Excavations the Israel Antiquities Authority is Conducting in the Western
Wall Tunnels:
A large and Magnificent 2,000 Year Old Miqve was Exposed
A large and impressive ritual bath (miqve) from the end of the Second Temple
period was recently uncovered in archaeological excavations the Israel
Antiquities Authority is carrying out in the Western Wall tunnels, in
cooperation with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.
The miqve was discovered inside the western hall of a splendid structure
that is located just c. 20 meters from the Western Wall. Parts of the
building were discovered in the past and the Israel Antiquities Authority is
currently exposing another one of the three halls inside it. It is one of
the most magnificent structures from the Second Temple period ever to be
uncovered.
The edifice is built of very delicately dressed ashlar stones and the
architectural decoration in it is of the highest quality. From an
architectural and artistic standpoint there are similarities between this
structure and the three magnificent compounds that King Herod built on the
Temple Mount, in the Cave of the Patriarchs and at Allonei Mamre, and from
which we can conclude the great significance that this building had in the
Second Temple period.
In his book The War of the Jews, Josephus Flavius writes there was a
government administrative center that was situated at the foot of the
Temple. Among the buildings he points out in this region were the council
house and the "Xistus"- the ashlar bureau. According to the Talmud it was in
this bureau that the Sanhedrin - the Jewish high court at the time of the
Second Temple - would convene. It may be that the superb structure the
Israel Antiquities Authority is presently uncovering belonged to one of
these two buildings.
According to archaeologist Alexander Onn, director of the excavation on
behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "It is interesting to see that
in the middle of the first century CE they began making changes in this
magnificent structure - at that time it was no longer used as a government
administrative building and a large miqve was installed inside its western
hall where there were c. 11 steps that descend to the immersion pool. It
seems that the city of Jerusalem grew in this period and it became necessary
to provide for the increased ritual bathing needs of the pilgrims who came
to the Temple in large numbers, especially during the three pilgrimage
festivals (Shlosha Regalim). Immersing oneself in the miqve and maintaining
ritual purity were an inseparable part of the Jewish way of life in this
period, and miqve'ot were absolutely essential, especially in the region of
the Temple."
(b) AP Article
Bath used by Temple pilgrims found in Jerusalem
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090923/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_ancient_bath
JERUSALEM. Israeli archaeologists say they have uncovered a ritual bath in Jerusalem that was likely used by Jewish pilgrims coming to the temple two millenia ago.
The bath is located next to the Temple Mount, the compound in Jerusalem's Old City where two Biblical Temples stood. The second was destroyed by Roman legions in 70 A.D.
The Israel Antiquities Authority says the stone bath was likely used for ritual purification by pilgrims who came to the Temple three times a year.
Similar ritual baths are still used by Jews for purification.
The site that once housed the temples is now Islam's third-holiest site, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. The ritual bath was found under homes in what is now the Old City's Muslim Quarter.
3. Some Massada Finds Displayed
http://www.antiquities.org.il/about_heb.asp?Modul_id=13&title=1
Orit Shamir discusses in Hebrew the textile and organic remains from Massada; click on the following link, then the video screen, then move it forward to 38:30 minutes into the broadcast:
http://www.mako.co.il/vod-index/news-news-2009/september/VOD-fac4021b549c321006.htm
4. Archaeology: Brit-Am Version of Explorator 12.23
From: david meadows <rogueclassicist@gmail.com>
================================================================
EARLY HUMANS
================================================================
On early humans, finger lengths, an monogamy:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/09/24/human-monogamy.html
================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
Plenty of coverage of the discovery of a 2000 years b.p. Miqveh
near the Western Wall:
http://jta.org/news/article/2009/09/23/1008095/2000-year-old-mikveh-uncovered
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Israel+beyond+politics/2000-year-old-miqve-exposed-in-Western-Wall-Tunnels-23-Sep-2009.htm?DisplayMode=print
http://www.antiquities.org.il/about_eng.asp?Modul_id=14
http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=45839
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jRaBu2HXlqmEo4EbqT9Lmzpok5TgD9AT12MG2
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090923/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_ancient_bath
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jRaBu2HXlqmEo4EbqT9Lmzpok5TgD9AT12MG2
http://news.therecord.com/article/602088
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32983041/ns/technology_and_science-science/
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133558
Feature on Herod's 'mystery temple' being at Omrit:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1253198156150&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Digging will resume in Ir David:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/171382
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1253627541929&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Some Ark of the Covenant items this week (both different):
http://www.physorg.com/news173034003.html
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=1116921
For some reason that 'boxer figurine' from the City of David
(found last summer) is making the rounds again:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/22783/
The Samaritan Archive 2.0 project might be of interest:
http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Archive-Watch-Good-Samaritans/8138
More on that stepped street from Jerusalem:
http://www.thebulletin.us/articles/2009/09/20/news/world/doc4ab6793d7be0b285938366.txt
Review of Itamar Singer, *The Hittites and their Civilization*:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1116453.html================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Feature on the tunnel beneath the Bosporus and all the things they're
finding:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/09/21/turkey.bosphorus.tunnel.marmaray/
More on that amphitheatre near Tiberias:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1115737.html
================================================================
EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)
================================================================
Capturing most of the press attention this week was a story of
a metal detectorist finding major Anglo Saxon hoard (the BBC
especially gave it plenty of attention):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/8272058.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8275357.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8257958.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8272848.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/8271241.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8272370.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/8274279.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/world/europe/25treasure.html
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/24/world/AP-EU-Britain-Anglo-Saxon-Gold.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6847595.ece
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6847081.ece
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6229683/Anglo-Saxon-gold-a-past-thats-no-longer-dead-and-buried.html
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090924/tuk-anglo-saxon-gold-hoard-discovered-6323e80.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/sep/24/staffordshire-anglo-saxon-gold-find
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-golden-hoard-1792796.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1215723/Staffordshire-hoard-Amateur-treasure-hunter-finds-Britains-biggest-haul-Anglo-Saxon-gold.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1215723/Largest-hoard-Anglo-Saxon-gold-Staffordshire.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=apIEpjaNDxbE
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20090925_Huge_Anglo-Saxon_trove_is_found_in_English_field.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j6bU4AZHX9m-PnJ7hHtgYNxlgpdgD9ATIKI81
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j6bU4AZHX9m-PnJ7hHtgYNxlgpdgD9ATMNHG3
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/Hallado/mayor/tesoro/anglosajon/Reino/Unido/elpepucul/20090924elpepucul_1/Tes
http://www.emol.com/noticias/internacional/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=377329
http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idINIndia-42682520090924
... and it has an official website already:
http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/
... and there's a great photoset at flickr of the various objects:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/finds/sets/72157622378376316/
... other photos and/or video at:
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/09/24/multimedia/1247464808581/gold-treasure-found-in-british-field.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8272370.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/6225743/The-Staffordshire-Hoard-Anglo-Saxon-gold-found-in-a-field-using-a-metal-detector.html
... some background on the Saxons:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6850885.ece>
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jrxpPynTP9X11lpQ63w_J7s0klxQD9ATM94G0
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/DN-angloglance_25int.ART.State.Edition1.4bbe4a0.html
There was another -- less publicized -- Saxon burial find near Oxfordshire:
http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/4641140.Does_brooch_dug_up_in_Oxfordshire_field_belong_to_6th_century_Saxon_princess_/?ref=rss
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/8266264.stm
A 6th century burial of a young girl (maybe) from Oxfordshire (I
think this is the same as the previous):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/8273342.stm
On the DNA front, Scandinavians are descended from Neolithic (?)
immigrants:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-09/uu-sad092409.php
http://www.physorg.com/news173022084.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090924141049.htm
http://www.genomeweb.com/sequencing/ancient-dna-offers-clues-scandinavian-ancestry
The Vikings were apparently warned to avoid Scotland:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/6212823/Vikings-were-warned-to-avoid-Scotland.html
Strange find of piles of finger bones in a Yorkshire garden:
http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/4632760.Can_you_solve_the_riddle_of_the_severed_fingers_/
The White Horse is getting some new chalk:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8265431.stm
Revisiting some lesser-known pirates:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/7588518.stm
================================================================
ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC
================================================================
On the DNA front, India was founded by two distinct ancient groups:
http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-118872.html
http://www.physorg.com/news172931737.html
... and it's being linked to the caste system:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/genetics/article6846424.ece
A dolmen with petroglyphs from near Villupuram:
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article22589.ece?homepage=true
The Great Wall was longer than previously believed:
http://trak.in/news/great-wall-of-china-longer-than-originally-believed/6963/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090922/wl_asia_afp/chinaculturearchaeologywall_20090922132411
================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Hiking Hadrian's Wall:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/59245412.html
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Claims that coins from the era of Joseph have been found are likely
squirrel fodder:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1253820674074&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133601
http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-118909.html
http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD256109
5. New Find Anglo Gold and Silver Implements: Fantastic Wealth
(a) Anglo-Saxon treasures uncovered
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8272370.stm
(b) Huge Anglo-Saxon gold hoard found
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/8272058.stm
Illustration:
|
This gold strip carries the Latin inscription: "Rise up O Lord, and may thy enemies be dispersed and those who hate thee be driven from thy face." It has two sources, the Book of Numbers or Psalm 67, taken from the Vulgate, the Bible used by the Saxons.
Several sword fittings discovered in the hoard exhibit artwork known as Salin's Style II. This style of animal-related artwork showed beasts intertwined in complex, symmetrical patterns. Examples of this style were also found at Sutton Hoo.
Anglo-Saxon helmets are very rare - only four helmets like the one from which the above cheek plate is taken have survived. Despite the intricate artwork, this helmet would have been used in battle, the decoration marking out the wearer's status.
 |
"The KHAZARS
Tribe 13 Now Available! http://britam.org/books.html Click Here |
Pleased with what you read?
Click Here to make an offering. |
'It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God or the Bible.'
George Washington
Brit-Am is the "still small voice" that contains the truth.
[1-Kings 19:12] AND AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE A FIRE; BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE FIRE: AND AFTER THE FIRE A STILL SMALL VOICE.
 |
 |