This volume is dedicated to Anthony J. Frendo, professor of Near Eastern Archaeology and Hebrew B... more This volume is dedicated to Anthony J. Frendo, professor of Near Eastern Archaeology and Hebrew Bible at the University of Malta. Frendo has dedicated the largest part of his academic career to exploring the relationship between text and artefact. Appropriately, therefore, many of the collected essays operate at this interface between disciplines while focusing on a diverse array of material, such as Hebrew, Aramaic, and Punic epigraphy, Phoenician/Punic textual and material culture, ancient Near Eastern archaeology, biblical texts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as elements from Maltese archaeology, including a cuneiform inscription found at a local sanctuary at Tas-Silg.
This is a preliminary report on the results of three seasons of excavation (2016-2018) carried ou... more This is a preliminary report on the results of three seasons of excavation (2016-2018) carried out at ꜤEinot Amitai, located in the Lower Galilee on the western slopes of the Har Yonah neighbourhood in Nof HaGalil. The excavations uncovered remains of a Roman-era chalk quarry which provided the raw material for an on-site workshop that produced chalk vessels. The interior of the cave contained a predominantly gravel fill comprised of ancient chippings produced as a by-product of both quarrying and stone-vessel production which took place within the cave. The fill contained close to 500 fragments of cores and vessels discarded in various stages of manufacture. The results of the present excavations provide the opportunity for novel insights into manufacturing techniques, vessel typology, and chronology. The discovery of large-scale chalk-vessel production at this site, almost certainly for local consumption, supports the understanding that a significant market demand for chalk vessels characterized the Galilee in a manner similar to the Judean heartland.
This article adds an archaeological voice to the current debate surrounding the authenticity of r... more This article adds an archaeological voice to the current debate surrounding the authenticity of recently acquired “Dead Sea Scrolls-like” fragments. In our opinion, since these fragments are above all archaeological artifacts, considerations of provenance should take priority over authenticity. We begin with a survey that contextualizes this debate in relation to other types of archaeological artifacts, and consider the importance of context as well as ethical, legal, moral, and economic issues relating to the acquisition and publication of unprovenanced artifacts. We conclude that any artifact that lacks verifiable documentation of its provenance—whether or not it is authentic—should not be studied or published by scholars. Finally, we urge professional organizations and publishers to establish or strengthen policies preventing the publication of such artifacts, even after primary publication or presentation elsewhere.
Law, Literature, and Society in Legal Texts from Qumran: Papers from the Ninth Meeting of the International Organisation for Qumran Studies, Leuven 2016, 2019
A legacy of antiquarian and archaeological explorations in the Maltese archipelago has long been ... more A legacy of antiquarian and archaeological explorations in the Maltese archipelago has long been identified with the rock-cut tombs and associated funerary remains of the Phoenician and Punic periods. By contrast, little is known about the islands’ countryside in antiquity. Recent excavations at the site of a long-lived Roman villa complex in
Żejtun (Malta) have begun to throw light on the rural world of the archipelago, unravelling the nature of the transition between the Punic and Roman periods where continuity rather than rupture implied by the phases of culture history is becoming clearer.
This volume is dedicated to Anthony J. Frendo, professor of Near Eastern Archaeology and Hebrew B... more This volume is dedicated to Anthony J. Frendo, professor of Near Eastern Archaeology and Hebrew Bible at the University of Malta. Frendo has dedicated the largest part of his academic career to exploring the relationship between text and artefact. Appropriately, therefore, many of the collected essays operate at this interface between disciplines while focusing on a diverse array of material, such as Hebrew, Aramaic, and Punic epigraphy, Phoenician/Punic textual and material culture, ancient Near Eastern archaeology, biblical texts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as elements from Maltese archaeology, including a cuneiform inscription found at a local sanctuary at Tas-Silg.
This is a preliminary report on the results of three seasons of excavation (2016-2018) carried ou... more This is a preliminary report on the results of three seasons of excavation (2016-2018) carried out at ꜤEinot Amitai, located in the Lower Galilee on the western slopes of the Har Yonah neighbourhood in Nof HaGalil. The excavations uncovered remains of a Roman-era chalk quarry which provided the raw material for an on-site workshop that produced chalk vessels. The interior of the cave contained a predominantly gravel fill comprised of ancient chippings produced as a by-product of both quarrying and stone-vessel production which took place within the cave. The fill contained close to 500 fragments of cores and vessels discarded in various stages of manufacture. The results of the present excavations provide the opportunity for novel insights into manufacturing techniques, vessel typology, and chronology. The discovery of large-scale chalk-vessel production at this site, almost certainly for local consumption, supports the understanding that a significant market demand for chalk vessels characterized the Galilee in a manner similar to the Judean heartland.
This article adds an archaeological voice to the current debate surrounding the authenticity of r... more This article adds an archaeological voice to the current debate surrounding the authenticity of recently acquired “Dead Sea Scrolls-like” fragments. In our opinion, since these fragments are above all archaeological artifacts, considerations of provenance should take priority over authenticity. We begin with a survey that contextualizes this debate in relation to other types of archaeological artifacts, and consider the importance of context as well as ethical, legal, moral, and economic issues relating to the acquisition and publication of unprovenanced artifacts. We conclude that any artifact that lacks verifiable documentation of its provenance—whether or not it is authentic—should not be studied or published by scholars. Finally, we urge professional organizations and publishers to establish or strengthen policies preventing the publication of such artifacts, even after primary publication or presentation elsewhere.
Law, Literature, and Society in Legal Texts from Qumran: Papers from the Ninth Meeting of the International Organisation for Qumran Studies, Leuven 2016, 2019
A legacy of antiquarian and archaeological explorations in the Maltese archipelago has long been ... more A legacy of antiquarian and archaeological explorations in the Maltese archipelago has long been identified with the rock-cut tombs and associated funerary remains of the Phoenician and Punic periods. By contrast, little is known about the islands’ countryside in antiquity. Recent excavations at the site of a long-lived Roman villa complex in
Żejtun (Malta) have begun to throw light on the rural world of the archipelago, unravelling the nature of the transition between the Punic and Roman periods where continuity rather than rupture implied by the phases of culture history is becoming clearer.
Qumran Cave 1Q was the first site of Dead Sea scroll discoveries. Found and partly emptied by loc... more Qumran Cave 1Q was the first site of Dead Sea scroll discoveries. Found and partly emptied by local Bedouin, the cave was excavated officially in 1949 and published in the series Discoveries in the Judaean Desert (Volume 1) in 1955. Contents of the cave are found in collections worldwide, and in different institutions in Jerusalem and Amman. While the scrolls are the most highly prized artefacts from this cave, in archaeological terms they are part of an assemblage that needs to be understood holistically in order to make conclusions about its character and dating. This study presents all of the known items retrieved from the cave, including those that are currently lost, in order to consider what we might know about the cave prior to its emptying and the changes to its form. It constitutes preliminary work done as part of the Leverhulme funded International Network for the Study of Dispersed Qumran Caves Artefacts and Archival Sources [IN-2015-067].
Are you interested in pursuing something new and different, like learning ARABIC, HEBREW, or CHIN... more Are you interested in pursuing something new and different, like learning ARABIC, HEBREW, or CHINESE from scratch?
The Department of Oriental Studies at the University of Malta offers a rigorous three-year bachelors degree programme in ARABIC, HEBREW, AND CHINESE. The Arabic programme that provides students with the opportunity to study Classical and Modern Standard Arabic intensively. The degree is enriched by a wide range of courses on the literature, history, religion, and culture of the Arab and Islamic worlds, covering material dating from pre-Islamic times to the modern and contemporary era.
Why study ARABIC?
Arabic speakers are in great demand! Arabic is currently the fifth most widely spoken language in the world, and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. With knowledge of Arabic come many opportunities for your future! Our programme will open doors to prospective careers in teaching, business, technology, tourism, translation and interpretation, international development, diplomacy, journalism, and academia.
The Department of Oriental Studies also offers a rigorous three-year programme that explores various aspects of the HEBREW language. Students will be given a solid foundation in both Biblical and Modern Hebrew, covering the pertinent linguistic competencies (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). The degree in Hebrew is enriched by courses on the archaeology of the land of Israel, the history of Judaism, the birth of the modern state of Israel, the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the Dead Sea Scrolls, modern Israeli literature, and much more.
Why study HEBREW?
Learning Hebrew can be a fascinating feat. It provides a unique opportunity to read the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in its original language. Not only is this text cherished by millions of believing Jews and Christians, but it also holds an important position in the western literary canon and lies at the foundation of western culture.
Moreover, Modern Hebrew is the language of the modern state of Israel, one of the world’s fast-growing high-tech economies and home to multilayered cultures and religions that still hold influence on the world stage. Knowledge of Hebrew is invaluable if you are interested in research or job opportunities relating to Israel, be they in tourism, media, translation, business, technology, or diplomacy. In addition, our programme helps you acquire highly sought-after skills, such as data analysis and interpretation, as well as creative and critical thinking.
The rigorous three-year programme in CHINESE provides students with the opportunity to study Mandarin Chinese intensively, covering all four of the linguistic competencies (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) from complete beginner to upper-intermediate level. The degree is enriched by courses on the history, literature, and culture of China from antiquity to the modern and contemporary era. The comprehensive knowledge acquired throughout our programme will further enable students to explore different academic fields of Sinology, as well as provide a solid foundation to pursue a Master’s degree by Research in Chinese.
Why study CHINESE?
Mandarin Chinese is by far the second most widely spoken language on a global level. Learning Chinese opens doors to an unexplored world full of surprises: the long and continuous existence of Chinese civilization makes China one of the oldest and richest still living cultures in the world with its 4,500 years of unbroken history. By learning the language and culture of China, the second-largest worldwide economy and one of the largest trading partners of Europe and North America, you will draw on several advantages in the job market: education, tourism, translation, business, academic research, and much more!
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Books by Dennis Mizzi
Papers by Dennis Mizzi
Żejtun (Malta) have begun to throw light on the rural world of the archipelago, unravelling the nature of the transition between the Punic and Roman periods where continuity rather than rupture implied by the phases of culture history is becoming clearer.
Żejtun (Malta) have begun to throw light on the rural world of the archipelago, unravelling the nature of the transition between the Punic and Roman periods where continuity rather than rupture implied by the phases of culture history is becoming clearer.
The Department of Oriental Studies at the University of Malta offers a rigorous three-year bachelors degree programme in ARABIC, HEBREW, AND CHINESE. The Arabic programme that provides students with the opportunity to study Classical and Modern Standard Arabic intensively. The degree is enriched by a wide range of courses on the literature, history, religion, and culture of the Arab and Islamic worlds, covering material dating from pre-Islamic times to the modern and contemporary era.
Why study ARABIC?
Arabic speakers are in great demand! Arabic is currently the fifth most widely spoken language in the world, and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. With knowledge of Arabic come many opportunities for your future! Our programme will open doors to prospective careers in teaching, business, technology, tourism, translation and interpretation, international development, diplomacy, journalism, and academia.
The Department of Oriental Studies also offers a rigorous three-year programme that explores various aspects of the HEBREW language. Students will be given a solid foundation in both Biblical and Modern Hebrew, covering the pertinent linguistic competencies (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). The degree in Hebrew is enriched by courses on the archaeology of the land of Israel, the history of Judaism, the birth of the modern state of Israel, the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the Dead Sea Scrolls, modern Israeli literature, and much more.
Why study HEBREW?
Learning Hebrew can be a fascinating feat. It provides a unique opportunity to read the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in its original language. Not only is this text cherished by millions of believing Jews and Christians, but it also holds an important position in the western literary canon and lies at the foundation of western culture.
Moreover, Modern Hebrew is the language of the modern state of Israel, one of the world’s fast-growing high-tech economies and home to multilayered cultures and religions that still hold influence on the world stage. Knowledge of Hebrew is invaluable if you are interested in research or job opportunities relating to Israel, be they in tourism, media, translation, business, technology, or diplomacy. In addition, our programme helps you acquire highly sought-after skills, such as data analysis and interpretation, as well as creative and critical thinking.
The rigorous three-year programme in CHINESE provides students with the opportunity to study Mandarin Chinese intensively, covering all four of the linguistic competencies (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) from complete beginner to upper-intermediate level. The degree is enriched by courses on the history, literature, and culture of China from antiquity to the modern and contemporary era. The comprehensive knowledge acquired throughout our programme will further enable students to explore different academic fields of Sinology, as well as provide a solid foundation to pursue a Master’s degree by Research in Chinese.
Why study CHINESE?
Mandarin Chinese is by far the second most widely spoken language on a global level. Learning Chinese opens doors to an unexplored world full of surprises: the long and continuous existence of Chinese civilization makes China one of the oldest and richest still living cultures in the world with its 4,500 years of unbroken history. By learning the language and culture of China, the second-largest worldwide economy and one of the largest trading partners of Europe and North America, you will draw on several advantages in the job market: education, tourism, translation, business, academic research, and much more!
Join us this October!
For more information:
📞 (+356) 2340 2046
📧 louisa.borg@um.edu.mt
💻 https://www.um.edu.mt/arts/oriental