As I’m sure everyone is well aware, but in case you live under a rock or perhaps just don’t follow the same fields I do, various news outlets have been running stories about the 10th Century BCE proto-Canaanite inscription found recently (with speculation here). Now, I’m not a very patient person, and so I want photos. I’m tentatively scheduled for a directed study in Epigraphic Hebrew next semester, and this inscription sounds highly interesting.
A few of my thoughts:
1. Finkelstein (quoted in the Haaretz piece) is right–there is no need for a revival of the Biblical Archeology craze. This inscription will probably prove to be absolutely fascinating, but unless its a letter about David slaying Goliath, it isn’t going to “prove” the Biblical account. Even if it is a letter about David slaying Goliath, it wouldn’t “prove” the Biblical version of things.
2. Did the teenager who found this shard know what he was handling? I’d have peed my pants.
3. Have I mentioned yet that I’m quite impatient and want pictures or a transcription? This simply doesn’t count.
4. I’m certainly not trying to make Duane’s life any harder–but such interesting finds (which would take far to long to link to, but see here and here) are abounding this month and we bibliobloggers are like a pack of ravenous hounds. Only 36ish more hours Duane!
Jim West has a couple links to larger pics with distinguishable characters. I went to the site this summer and heard Garfinkel talk about the inscription (and his 4 magic olive pits), but I don’t recall him mentioning when they caught the inscription. My guess is that it was during pottery washing in which case there was no peeing of the pants… maybe. Finding huge sherds is always fun.
I’ll be find but these are trying times. Thanks for the concern.
Eric – I saw the pictures on Jim’s site, better than others, but still not great. Alas, I suppose patience is the order of the day.
Duane – Just look on the bright side, you’ve only got 13.5 more hours to go.