40 years in Biblical Archaeology with Eric and Carol Meyers

The latest Biblical Archaeology Review has a lengthy retrospective on the careers of my Duke colleagues Eric Meyers and Carol Meyers:

Biblical Archaeology: Whither and Whence

Looking Back with Eric and Carol Meyers

Hershel Shanks  (02/09/2015)

It's a great read, especially the discussion of the discovery of the Torah ark from the ancient synagogue at Nabratein in 1981, which Dukies will recognize from the replica that is sitting in the passageway the the entrance of Gray Building.

The article also features the legendary picture of the Meyers dressed in Raiders of the Lost Ark garb for People Magazine in 1981 (left).

Holy Land Archaeology at Duke

My colleagues Eric Meyers and Carol Meyers are once again leading a group of a students in an intensive study of Holy Land Archaeology.

They flew out at the end of December and are currently busy touring Israel, seeing sites, listening to one another's insights on the key archaeological, historical and political issues:

Holy Land Archaeology at Duke

The photograph here is nicked from Ben Gordon, who is TAing on the tour, and it depicts the group gathered for the discussion by Iron Age storehouses at Hazor.

As you'd expect from Duke students (I know, I would say this, but it's true), the writing on the blog is clear and full of great insights.  The whole blog is superbly illustrated with lots of great pics, including this one of "verifiable archaeological rock stars" Eric Meyers and Carol Meyers:

Duke Holy Land Archaeology

Thanks to Eric Meyers for this great picture of our students spelling out the name of our favourite university in the Caesarea theater, taken last week during the Holy Land Archaeology at Duke course run by Eric Meyers and Carol Meyers on behalf of the Religion department.

You can read all about the trip over on the Holy Land Archaeology blog, with lots of detailed reflections from the students involved and some great pictures too.

Eric Meyers and Carol Meyers, Online Office Hours

My colleagues here in the Religion Department yesterday appeared on Duke's Online Office Hours, discussing Archaeology, Bible, Politics and Media. You can watch the video here:


 

I have also added it to our departmental Audio and Video page.

Sepphoris 2011 Excavations

My colleagues Eric Meyers and Carol Meyers, and graduate student Alan Todd are pictured here excavating in Sepphoris.  There is a new blog dedicated to the dig:

David Hendin's Sepphoris 2011 Excavation Blog

It's a really thorough, day by day, detailed account and there are tons of pictures.  Really makes you wish that you were there!

Duke Religion Blog: Eric Meyers on the Talpiot Tomb

Our Duke Religion Blog is steadily getting going, and the latest post is from Eric Meyers, offering a previously unpublished piece on his thoughts on Another Ossuary Story: The Tomb of Jesus, written in the days immediately preceding the airing of the documentary.

Eric Meyers on TV this week

If you are in North Carolina (wish I was), Eric Meyers will be on UNC public television this week:

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Jewish Heritage Foundation of NC in the spotlight on UNC-TV (www.jhfnc.org)

Don't miss seeing Dr. Eric Meyers in a fascinating conversation with William Friday on the North Carolina People program, airing on Friday, September 2, 2005 at 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 4, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. The origins of the Jewish Heritage Foundation of NC, the continuing influence of Rabbi Efraim Rosenzweig on our work, the Down Home project, and Dr. Meyers remarkable career as an archeologist and scholar are among the topics in this erudite and wide-ranging discussion.

The program will also air in all of the NC Channel slots during the week -- Monday, at 7:00 am, 8:30 am, and 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. UNC-TV’s NC Channel is available to those with a digital tuner or digital cable with Time Warner.

If you miss the air times, the interview will also be available streaming on the Web for a month. Point your browser to:

http://www.unctv.org/ncpeople/watch_people.html
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The Real Family of Jesus

If you are in the USA and have access to Discovery Channel, it is broadcasting a new two hour BBC / Dicovery co-production on Easter Day:

The Real Family of Jesus
Part One - Premiere, Sunday, March 27, 9-10pm e/p
Part Two - Premiere, Sunday, March 27, 10-11pm e/p

Most people know very little about Jesus Christ's family - who they were and what role they played in his life. This two-part special reveals that Jesus was part of a large extended family - a network that played a critical part in his upbringing and the rise and success of Christianity. Using historical, archeological and biblical evidence, Family of Jesus examines Jesus' relationships with not only his parents Joseph and Mary, but grandfather Joachim, cousin John The Baptist, brothers Simon, Jude, Joseph and James, his uncle Clophas and aunt Mary and others, and pulls together a picture of a dynastic family who believed it was descended from King David, and did everything in its power to promote and perpetuate its lineage. What they would never know is how well they succeeded.

The documentary should feature a little of me talking about Judas Thomas, filmed in Worcester College, Oxford. Among others, the documentary also features Joe Zias and Eric Meyers. I have not seen it yet myself but I am going to ask for a preview tape. I heard a couple of weeks ago that there are no plans for the documentary to go out in the UK.

Meyers on James Ossuary "pure hearsay"

There are some useful reflections on the article on the James Ossuary by Eric Meyers in both Paleojudaica, "I'm not going to put much stock in it until the anonymous archaeologist goes public and gives us a firsthand account I can evaluate for myself", and Hypotyposeis -- excerpt:

"Unfortunately, the anonymity of the witness is a serious cause for concern, and until the person is willing to come forward and be "cross-examined" to determine if that's what he really told Meyers or whether his recollection is solid, the charge has to be considered pure hearsay. It is also unfortunate in terms of being able to evaluate the charge that "the dealer's shop has recently closed and the one-time owner of the ossuary has since moved to Europe." All we're left with is the word of an anonymous source, a level of reporting that is usually considered to be insufficient in modern journalism."

More doubt on the James Ossuary -- Eric Meyers

You may have seen this already, but it's worth mentioning again if not. This from Bible and Interpretation today:

Well-known Israeli Archeologist Casts More Doubt on Authenticity of James Ossuary
Ossuary spotted in dealer's shop lacking the “brother of Jesus” element of the inscription
Eric Meyers