Posted on 02/12/2018 8:39:22 PM PST by SunkenCiv
One of the world's oldest landfills was recently uncovered in Jerusalem. Situated on the eastern slopes of Jerusalem's Southeastern Hill (the "City of David" or present day "Silwan"), the landfill dates to the Early Roman period (first century B.C.E.-first century C.E.). Through a systematic excavation of this landfill, Tel Aviv University archaeologist Yuval Gadot and his team have been able to shed light on Jerusalem during a particularly tumultuous chapter of its history -- when Rome ruled, the Temple stood, and Jesus preached...
The nature of the massive amount of garbage concentrated at this site suggests the presence of an established, citywide garbage disposal operation that included the development of a specialized mode of collection and transportation to the top of the slope (a convoy of donkeys hauled the waste), the deliberate disposal of the garbage down the slope, setting the garbage on fire, and burying the remains beneath a layer of soil. The scale of work dictates that this waste management operation was a public enterprise. And while this may seem natural and vital for those of us living in the 21st century, this was not necessarily the case in antiquity.
(Excerpt) Read more at biblicalarchaeology.org ...
Jerusalem's Ancient Landfill. Archaeologists have uncovered a landfill from the Early Roman period (first century B.C.E.-first century C.E.) on the eastern slopes of Jerusalem's Southeastern Hill (the "City of David") -- outside the walls of ancient Jerusalem. Photo: Courtesy Yuval Gadot/Photo by Assaf Peretz.
Cue Monty Python’s “What have the Romans ever done for us?” I think they left out garbage disposal.
‘Biblical’ Archeological Review: B.C.E., C.E. ?
Did they mean B.C. or A.D. ?
Hardly ‘Biblical’.
Here I thought we were talking about taking out the bad guys. 8>)
Become an archaeologist (that’s how it spelled, btw), and you can write your dates any way you want. Meanwhile, everyone on Earth knows exactly what the dates are.
The archaeology is fascinating, but I was taught since childhood in church about “Gehenna,” the trash disposal into the valley of Hinnom, which Jesus used as a visual aid to describe hell.
My point is about the secularization/transformation of Western civ culture, to now include science.
If you’re good with that why not use the Mayan, Chinese, Indian, Muslim or star- date calendar ?
At least they didn’t have to deal with Waste Management back then.
Well, with the periodic dirt fill being laid down, and the regular dumping of trash, it would “seem” to be archeologists dream find!
But, they’re dumping the junk down a cliff into a ravine, so the trash at the bottom get mixed up with other months, years, decades and other centuries.
Hardly ‘Biblical’...
Since the A.D./B.C. system was not invented until ~525 A.D. or C.E. It is not obvious that the numbering system is "Biblical".
And, in any event, Old Testament dates would be Jewish. The current Jewish year numbering system was not introduced until 1178 C.E., although very close systems were used as early as the 2 nd century C.E.
Since all new testament books were written before the 2 nd century C.E., it is not completely obvious what year numbering system the authors would have used.
I just don't see using C.E. and B.C.E. as either more or less "Biblical" than A.D. and B.C. And, at least it is consistent. The A.D./ B.C. nomenclature falls short in that area with A.D. being in Latin and B.C. being in English.
So what is the system in use in Western civilization for the last 1500 years ?
What is your stupid reason to change it ?
Because I didn't write the article, stupid.
Jerusalem's system of dumping, burning and over-covering left distinct, temporal layers -- "like pages in a book". Look at the overview photo: you can see the distinct layers, angling down and replicating the ancient valley slope.
Of course, Jerusalem's low rainfall makes such precise and lengthy excavations practical. Here in Texas, such an excavation would have a short lifetime (collapse due to rain/runoff) -- except in the far west...
Of course, we do have the advantage that early Texans seldom burned their trash-- so, more fragile stuff usually survived better.
No doubt about it: trash dump excavation can be fun -- you're always finding something! That's why, at our annual TAS Field Schools, our youth crews are usually assigned to the trash dump or kitchen midden on prehistoric sites. The density of "finds" excites their interest -- and keeps it high! (And envious adults assigned to excavate in sparse parts of the site often drop by to check out -- and envy -- the finds the kids are making...)
Some of the best archaeologists in Texas got their start in a trash dump! '-)
Wonder what that circular object (”left-in-situ”) at lower right is...
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