Progress on the 6th century Aramaic script thanks to bricks from Babylon

Benjamin Sass and Joachim Marzahn have recently made a significant contribution to our knowledge of Aramaic epigraphy with the following book:

Aramaic and Figural Stamp Impressions of the Sixth Century B.C. from Babylon (Ausgrabungen in Babylon 10/WVDOG 127; Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2010).

Timothy Law's plea to scholars on Kings

In the last issue of Vetus Testamentum, Timothy Law has published a very interesting article about the research on 1 Kings/3 Reigns:

“How Not to Use 3 Reigns: A Plea to Scholars of the Books of Kings”, VT 61 (2011) 280-297.

Review of Echoes from the Past

My (long) review of Echoes from the Past, the English translation of S. Ahituv's handbook of Hebrew inscriptions, has been published in the Journal of Hebrew Scriptures.

Hisban Ostracon A1: New Readings

In 1975 Frank M. Cross published several ostraca found during the excavations of Tall Hisban, Jordan. Virtually all subsequent studies took up the readings and the translation of the great epigraphist almost without change. A notable exception was Emile Puech, who offered a transcription with several different readings, but his article focused on palaeography and he did not provide any analysis nor translation. 

The author with ostracon A1

During a visit at the Amman Citadel Museum, I have been able with my friend Michael Weigl (from the University of Vienna) to examine most of these inscriptions, makings photographs and drawings of the originals.