Ancient Bible Discoveries l Archaeology Artifacts

One of the four gold wreaths bearing olive leaves excavated during works for the city metro in Thessaloniki, Greece. Archaeologists have also found the grave of a woman who lived in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki over 2,000 years ago and was buried with elaborately-crafted jewels.

ATHENS, Greece - A priceless gold wreath has been unearthed in an ancient city in northern Greece, buried with human bones in a large copper vase that workers initially took for a land mine.

The find is highly unusual as the rich artifacts appear to have been removed from a grave during ancient times and, for reasons that remain unclear, reburied in the city's marketplace near a shrine of the goddess Eukleia.

See rest of story on msnbc.

Nov. 9, 2007 -- The family of man who held a fragment of a more than 1,000-year-old manuscript of the Hebrew Bible for six decades as a good luck charm will present it to a Jerusalem institute next week, officials said Thursday.

"...is believed to be part of the most authoritative manuscript of the Hebrew Bible, the Aleppo Codex, said Michael Glatzer, academic secretary of the Yad Ben Zvi institute. It contains verses from the Book of Exodus describing the plagues in Egypt, including the words of Moses to Pharaoh, "Let my people go, that they may serve me."

Sam Sabbagh, then a 17-year-old Syrian, picked up a piece of the manuscript off the floor of a synagogue in Aleppo, Syria in 1947. The synagogue had been burned the previous day in riots that followed the decision by the United Nations to partition Palestine, a step to creation of the Jewish state of Israel.

"We have only about 60 percent of the codex -- more than a third is still missing," said Aron Dotan, professor of Hebrew and Semitic languages at Tel Aviv University. The missing part includes most of the Torah, or Pentateuch, he said. The codex comprised the books of the Old Testament..."

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Israel's Antiquities Authority announced the discovery of remains of the southern wall of Jerusalem. Dating the 2nd temple wall of Jerusalem built by Hasmonean kings. It is believed to have run 6 km around the Old City. Archeological proof a biblical Temple was built there in Jerusalem. Destroyed during the Great Revolt against the Romans that began in 66 CE. ...stands today at the height of three metres.

See Story on Jerusalem Post

In 1986 the Sea of Gallilee dropped it's level and revealed much shoreline. Two men noticed the outline of a boat in the mud. Experts were called in and it was discovered to be an ancient boat and was excavated before the water returned.

Protection was built around the boat to prevent lake water from coming in, along with pumps. At the same time the wood had to be kept wet to preserve it. This fragile remains of a boat was strengthened by fiberglass and polyurethane... Synthetic wax was added to the wood, to give it sufficient structural strength for display outside the pool... ...Additional wood fragments were uncovered nearby, believing it served as a shipyard. Could have carried 15 people, including a crew of five. It would likely have been used for fishing, but also could carry passengers and goods.

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The discovery of the church in the northern Israeli town of Megiddo, near the biblical Armageddon, was hailed by experts as an important discovery that could reveal details about the development of the early church in the region. Archaeologists said the church dated from the third century, decades before Constantine legalized Christianity across the Byzantine Empire.

"What's clear today is that it's the oldest archaeological remains of a church in Israel, maybe even in the entire region. Whether in the entire world, it's still too early to say," said Yotam Tepper, the excavation's head archaeologist.

Rest of Story: AP Story of Church on msnbc

The photograph at right was taken in the early 1900s and shows the Pool of Siloam before later Muslim construction above it. An early description of the pool reads, "There is nothing picturesque about it, certainly. The crumbling walls, and fallen columns in and around it, give it an air of neglect." It is a parallelogram about fifty-three feet long and eighteen feet wide. . . . Dr. Thomson says he has seen this pool nearly full, but that now the water merely passes through it.

Archaeologists working in the City of David have uncovered the edge of what they believe is the Pool of Siloam from the time of Jesus (cf. John 9). The photo below shows the city of Jerusalem with the Temple Mount and the City of David. The excavations are on the west side of the City of David. To see more on the Pool of Siloam Click Here