Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project

26/10/2026

Workshop on “How to Make Religious Spaces” (Leipzig, Oct. 28–29, 2026)

Just a reminder that on Wednesday-Thursday, 28th-29th of October, 2026, a very interesting workshop, under the auspices of the RIAB Minerva Center - "How to Make Religious Spaces" - will be held in Leipzig. For the full details, see here. Should be very interesting!

Just a reminder that on Wednesday-Thursday, 28th-29th of October, 2026, a very interesting workshop, under the auspices of the RIAB Minerva Center – “How to Make Religious Spaces”…

22/10/2026

RIAB Center Workshop (Leipzig, Dec 8-9, 2026): “Levantine Connectivity in the Iron Age and the Persian Period”

On December 8-9, 2026, a RIAB Center workshop "Levantine Connectivity in the Iron Age and the Persian Period" will be held at Leipzig University. Should be very interesting! See below for the details:

17/10/2026

International Archaeology Day and this blog!

Today (October 17th) is "International Archaeology Day" - which is celebrated by archaeologists, and lay people interested in archaeology, all over the world. It honors the fascinating finds that are revealed about the past by archaeological research, finds and research which enable both archaeologists and the general public to learn about our past as humans, in diverse periods, cultures and regions....

Today (October 17th) is “International Archaeology Day” – which is celebrated by archaeologists, and lay people interested in archaeology, all over the world. It honors the fascin…

15/10/2026

Sad news: Malcom Weiner has passed away

Sad news for the archaeological community in general, and in particular, for those dealing with the archaeology of Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. Malcom Weiner (z"l), who was a generous philanthropist, and a scholar on his own right, founded and funded the Institute of Aegean Prehistory (INSTAP). He passed away a few days ago at the age of 91 (for a obit with a short biography, see…...

Sad news for the archaeological community in general, and in particular, for those dealing with the archaeology of Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. Malcom Weiner (z”l), who was a generou…

14/10/2026

New book: Hesi after 50 years & 150 years

Today, I found a very nice book in the mail "Hesi after 50 Years and 130 Years: Beginning a New Generation of Hesi Research" (Eisenbrauns, 2023), edited by John R. Spencer, James W. Hardin, and Jeffrey Blakely. The volume is a collection of papers in which aspects relating to past excavations at the site are discussed, and plans for continuing excavations are presented....

Today, I found a very nice book in the mail “Hesi after 50 Years and 130 Years: Beginning a New Generation of Hesi Research” (Eisenbrauns, 2023), edited by John R. Spencer, James W. Har…

13/10/2026

My 2014 lecture on the Philistines at the OI/ISAC

Twelve years ago, in 2014, I presened a lecture on the Philistines at the Oriental Institute (OI) of the University of Chicago (since then quite recently renamed as the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures ). The lecture was called "New Light on the Biblical Philistines: Recent Study on the Frenemies of Ancient Israel." In the lecture, I presented new evidence and interpretation of the Philistines and their broader context, based recent study, and in particular finds from Tell es-Safi/Gath....

Twelve years ago, in 2014, I presened a lecture on the Philistines at the Oriental Institute (OI) of the University of Chicago (since then quite recently renamed as the Institute for the Study of A…

07/10/2026

Marking Three Years to October 7th

Today we mark three years to the horrible massacres carried out by HAMAS and other Palestinian groups against Israelis in southern Israel. To remember some of the horrible things that happened that day, I stiched together 6 short clips that I made about 2 weeks after the massacres, when I visited some of the massacre sites. Although the bodies of those murdered were not there anymore, the explicit and very disturbing evidence could be clearly seen....

05/10/2026

Delphi, the Oracle and Philistine Patgaya

Today, I got to visit another super important site which I had never had had the chance to visit - Delphi! The visit to the site, and the excellent museum adjacent to it, were truly fascinating. The weather was superb and there weren't too many visitors, so it was as convenient as possible. The general geographic setting is indeed majestic, and the remains are super impressive....

02/10/2026

Thebes and it’s Archaeological museum

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Thebes, and in particular, it's exceptional archaeological museum. Having never been to Thebes and it immediate region, it was nice to see the landscape, topography and natural setting, and of course, some of the ancient sites in Thebes. But the crown of the jewel of my visit was the several hours I spent in the wonderful archaeological museum....

01/10/2026

Eretria, Hazael, Lefkandi and other stuff

Today, I had the opportunity to visit the site and museum at Eretria, Greece, something that I've wanted to do for years. Eretria was an imporant site in SW Evia (Eubia) with remains from the Early Helladic Period and all the way to the Roman Period. There are many important finds from the site, but the two most significant for me were two bronze horse blinkers that were found in a cultic cache in the earlier Temple of Apollo Daphnephoros....