Israel Find May Help Solve Mystery Of Biblical Philistines

Phys dot org ^ | Sunday, July 10, 2016 | Yaniv Zohar

[SunkenCiv]

The Philistines left behind plenty of pottery. But part of the mystery surrounding the ancient people was that very little biological trace of them had been found -- until 2013.

That's when archaeologists excavating the site of the biblical city of Ashkelon found what they say is the first Philistine cemetery ever discovered. They say they have uncovered the remains of more than 200 people there.

The discovery was finally unveiled Sunday at the close of a 30-year excavation by the Leon Levy Expedition, a team of archaeologists from Harvard University, Boston College, Wheaton College in Illinois and Troy University in Alabama.

The team is now performing DNA, radiocarbon and other tests on bone samples uncovered at the cemetery, dating back to between the 11th and the 8th centuries B.C., to help resolve a debate about the Philistines' geographical origins. The archaeologists have not announced any conclusions, saying they are taking advantage of recent advances in DNA testing to get the most accurate results...

Archaeologists and biblical scholars have long believed the Philistines came from the Aegean region, based on pottery found in excavations of Philistine sites.

But scholars have debated where exactly in the Aegean region the Philistines came from: mainland Greece, the islands of Crete or Cyprus, or even Anatolia, in modern-day Turkey.

The bones might hold the answers, said archaeologist Yossi Garfinkel, an Israeli expert on the period who did not participate in the dig. He called the cemetery find "a very significant discovery indeed."

[SunkenCiv]

sorted, duplicates out, some superfluous removed:

• Excavations at Idalion, Cyprus: Crossing Cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean [April 6, 2016] [2016]
• Queen of the Philistines: Trude Dothan (1922-2016) [2016]
• Philistines introduced sycamore, cumin and opium poppy into Israel during the Iron Age [2015]
• Goliath Gates: Entrance to Famous Biblical Metropolis Uncovered [2015]
• Bible Proved Historically Accurate Once Again. Goliath's Gates Found [2015]
• Archaeologists Unearth Another Impressive Biblical Find [2015]
• Goliath Gates: Entrance to Famous Biblical Metropolis Uncovered [2015]
• Archaeologists discover humongous gate in Goliath's hometown [2015]
• Sex, drugs and Philistines: A biblical psychedelic scene [2015]
• Last practitioner of Minoan rituals may have lived in Jerusalem's Old City till '48 [2015]
• Cultural connections with Europe found in ancient Jordanian settlement [2014]
• Ancient City Discovered Beneath Biblical-Era Ruins in Israel [2013]
• Genetic study proves Israel's wild boars originated in Europe [2013]
• Archaeologists say they uncovered King David's Palace [2013]
• Does this coin found near Jerusalem prove that Samson lived? [2012]
• Mosaic in Israel Shows Biblical Samson [2012]
• 3,000-year-old artifacts fuel Biblical archaeology debate [2012]
• 3,000-year-old altar uncovered at Philistine site suggests cultural links to Jews [2011]
• In Israel, Diggers Unearth The Bible's Bad Guys [2011]
• Diggers Unearth Philistines Remains in Israel, Providing scholars with clues to the Bible's bad guys [2011]
• In Israel, diggers unearth the Bible's bad guys [2011]
• David and Solomon [2010]
• Philistine Temple Ruins Uncovered in Goliath's Hometown [2010]
• Archaeologists Uncover Goliath's Hometown [2010]
• Experts dig up dirt on David and Goliath [2009]
• Mourning Goliath: An Editorial from the Philistine Times [2009]
• New evidence surfaces of David's kingdom [2008]
• Sick Rams Used As Ancient Bioweapons [2007]
• Samson Effect [2007]
• Bronze Age building uncovered near Gaza [2007]
• A serving of Philistine culture: Boar, dog and fine wine [2007]
• Philistines, But Less And Less Philistine [2007]
• Special Report: Ekron Identity Confirmed [ from 1998 ] [2006]
• Anti-social Samson [2006]
• Has the Biblical Goliath Been Found? [2005]
• Dig Backs Biblical Account Of Philistine City Of Gat [2005]
• Muslims Say "Samson" was the first suicide bomber [2005]
• Ethnic Groups in Philistia [2004]
• Bio Warfare Rears Its Head- The Ancient world USED IT!!!(MUST READ!) [2004]
• Bees, snakes, germs -- any weapon in a pinch [2003]
• Keyword: philistines
• Keyword: philistine
• Keyword: philistia

[SunkenCiv]

Red Badger and 2ndDivisionVet for the links!

[SunkenCiv]

This is bound to be or become one of *those* topics.

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[SunkenCiv]

4,000-Year-Old Necropolis with more than 100 Tombs Discovered Near Bethlehem
Ancient Origins | March 8, 2016 | M.R. Reese
Posted on 03/07/2016 4:26:38 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3406369/posts

Bronze-Age Cemetery Discovered Near Bethlehem
[snip] The cemetery fell out of use around 650 B.C. “It seems that the town suffered a crisis,” Nigro wrote in Vicino Oriente. [/snip]
Archaeology | Friday, March 04, 2016 | editors / LiveScience
Posted on 03/06/2016 6:20:24 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3405993/posts?page=3#3

[TXnMA]

The results should be worth monitoring for their eventual release...

[Admin Moderator]

Append keyword "turkey"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:11:35 PM PDT
Append keyword "anatolia"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:11:35 PM PDT
Append keyword "israel"	Olog-hai	07/10/2016 10:11:32 PM PDT
Append keyword "cyprus"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:11:29 PM PDT
Append keyword "greece"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:11:29 PM PDT
Append keyword "aegean"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:11:29 PM PDT
Append keyword "crete"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:11:29 PM PDT
Append keyword "yossigarfinkel"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:10:51 PM PDT
Append keyword "alabama"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:10:39 PM PDT
Append keyword "illinois"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:10:39 PM PDT
Append keyword "wheatoncollege"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:10:39 PM PDT
Append keyword "troyuniversity"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:10:39 PM PDT
Append keyword "harvarduniversity"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:10:29 PM PDT
Append keyword "ashkelon"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:10:29 PM PDT
Append keyword "bostoncollege"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:10:29 PM PDT
Append keyword "leonlevyexpedition"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:10:29 PM PDT
Append keyword "catastrophism"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:08:47 PM PDT
Append keyword "philistines"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:07:17 PM PDT
Append keyword "philistine"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:07:17 PM PDT
Append keyword "philistia"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:07:17 PM PDT
Append keyword "jerusalem"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:06:41 PM PDT
Append keyword "godsgravesglyphs"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:06:41 PM PDT
Append keyword "ancientautopsies"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:06:41 PM PDT
Append keyword "letshavejerusalem"	SunkenCiv	07/10/2016 10:06:41 PM PDT

[Edward.Fish]

What’s the deal with the list? (It seems to me that most of those keywords are applicable directly from the article.)
And why was the first post removed?

[Cronos]

I wonder what happened to the Philistines — were they moved by the Assyrians or did they just assimilate with the Judean populace?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I wonder what happened to the Philistines

It's my understanding that they moved to the United States and took over the liberal arts faculty at most major universities

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Ouch !

[Red Badger]

From what I have read, they became Jewish and assimilated into the general populace.................

[Admin Moderator]

Post #1 has been restored.

Copy and paste any keywords you wish to use from the list posted.

[Trumpinator]

Based on the reconstruction of the Philistine language coupled with pottery - they were more than likely Hellenes or a group of refugees of many different origins but with a major Hellene element.

[hlmencken3]

There is a theory, based on some puzzling Hebrew wording concerning the Philistine capture of the Ark, that Philistine men could no longer get erections as punishment.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

LOLOLOLOL

[ckilmer]

Since the Philistines seem to appear at the same time as the Sea Peoples-—and with the knowledge of iron making—wouldn’t they be a good candidate for being a part of the Sea Peoples.

[ro_dreaming]

letshavejerusalem

Can Jewish men not shave already?

/just joking, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

[Cronos]

well the term "Sea Peoples" seems to be an umbrella term for a number of different ethnicities (like the term Scythian) - it seems to include the peoples who populated Sicily as well as others.

There is the book 1177 BC, the year civilization collapsed which describes this well. My bet is Indo-Europeans from Crete as some people pointed out here

[Cronos]

Isn’t it too early for Hellenic? Or are you suggesting they were Myceneans? hmmm... possible - as the Myceneans seem more war-like than the Minoans

[Cronos]

Maybe it's a slogan to the Orthodox Jews saying they should not ban shaving :-P

Live and let shave :-P