Michael Press
@michaeldpress.bsky.social
Researcher and editor | writings on cultural heritage, antiquities trade
Pinned
Michael Press
@michaeldpress.bsky.social
· Aug 27
In Revue Biblique, I have an article on the provenance of the "Nazareth Inscription", an Early Roman-period text that has been often linked over the last century with the earliest Christians. What can we actually say about it? 🧵
How fitting that Commentary chose to illustrate this nasty, fraudulent piece of work with a notorious fake, the Jehoash Inscription.
What a way to show you care about Jewish history.
What a way to show you care about Jewish history.
Of all the hysterical warnings over the last few years that "they're destroying our history", this -- from the senior editor of Commentary -- might be both the nastiest and the most dishonest 🧵
September 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM
How fitting that Commentary chose to illustrate this nasty, fraudulent piece of work with a notorious fake, the Jehoash Inscription.
What a way to show you care about Jewish history.
What a way to show you care about Jewish history.
Of all the hysterical warnings over the last few years that "they're destroying our history", this -- from the senior editor of Commentary -- might be both the nastiest and the most dishonest 🧵
September 2, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Of all the hysterical warnings over the last few years that "they're destroying our history", this -- from the senior editor of Commentary -- might be both the nastiest and the most dishonest 🧵
Nearly two years into Israel's annihilation of Gaza and Museum of the Bible's partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) is still going strong.
September 2, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Nearly two years into Israel's annihilation of Gaza and Museum of the Bible's partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) is still going strong.
Reposted by Michael Press
In Revue Biblique, I have an article on the provenance of the "Nazareth Inscription", an Early Roman-period text that has been often linked over the last century with the earliest Christians. What can we actually say about it? 🧵
August 27, 2025 at 8:46 PM
In Revue Biblique, I have an article on the provenance of the "Nazareth Inscription", an Early Roman-period text that has been often linked over the last century with the earliest Christians. What can we actually say about it? 🧵
In Revue Biblique, I have an article on the provenance of the "Nazareth Inscription", an Early Roman-period text that has been often linked over the last century with the earliest Christians. What can we actually say about it? 🧵
August 27, 2025 at 8:46 PM
In Revue Biblique, I have an article on the provenance of the "Nazareth Inscription", an Early Roman-period text that has been often linked over the last century with the earliest Christians. What can we actually say about it? 🧵
Euphemisms galore:
Even the left-leaning Haaretz sees occupied East Jerusalem as merely "contested" & an illegal Israeli dig there as merely "controversial".
Also, Elad does more than "promote Jewish settlement in Silwan", it's worked for decades to evict Palestinians.
Even the left-leaning Haaretz sees occupied East Jerusalem as merely "contested" & an illegal Israeli dig there as merely "controversial".
Also, Elad does more than "promote Jewish settlement in Silwan", it's worked for decades to evict Palestinians.
August 26, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Euphemisms galore:
Even the left-leaning Haaretz sees occupied East Jerusalem as merely "contested" & an illegal Israeli dig there as merely "controversial".
Also, Elad does more than "promote Jewish settlement in Silwan", it's worked for decades to evict Palestinians.
Even the left-leaning Haaretz sees occupied East Jerusalem as merely "contested" & an illegal Israeli dig there as merely "controversial".
Also, Elad does more than "promote Jewish settlement in Silwan", it's worked for decades to evict Palestinians.
Long-form update on the Israeli bill to put archaeology in the occupied West Bank under civilian authority -- part of the Israeli government's larger plan to annex the territory.
www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologis...
www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologis...
Archaeologists dig in against antiquities bill aiming to deepen Israel’s hold on West Bank
A push to shift oversight of excavations in the territory to a civilian authority sparks worries of creeping annexation, with researchers fearing they'll bear brunt of any backlash
www.timesofisrael.com
August 25, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Long-form update on the Israeli bill to put archaeology in the occupied West Bank under civilian authority -- part of the Israeli government's larger plan to annex the territory.
www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologis...
www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologis...
Genocide-denying Holocaust historian, in interview published yesterday: claim that 72% of deaths in Gaza are women & children is vastly inflated.
Israeli military database, leaked today: at least *83* % of deaths in Gaza are civilians.
Israeli military database, leaked today: at least *83* % of deaths in Gaza are civilians.
August 21, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Genocide-denying Holocaust historian, in interview published yesterday: claim that 72% of deaths in Gaza are women & children is vastly inflated.
Israeli military database, leaked today: at least *83* % of deaths in Gaza are civilians.
Israeli military database, leaked today: at least *83* % of deaths in Gaza are civilians.
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has spent years promoting gimmicky, misleading tie-ins, timing announcements of finds for various holidays.
But in June they apparently reached a new low: linking a discovery to Israel's unprovoked attack on Iran.
But in June they apparently reached a new low: linking a discovery to Israel's unprovoked attack on Iran.
August 19, 2025 at 9:20 PM
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has spent years promoting gimmicky, misleading tie-ins, timing announcements of finds for various holidays.
But in June they apparently reached a new low: linking a discovery to Israel's unprovoked attack on Iran.
But in June they apparently reached a new low: linking a discovery to Israel's unprovoked attack on Iran.
In a sense the powerful have always been above the law, but 1 thing that has changed is the illusion: the gap between rhetoric & reality, between symbolism & action, is now so obvious and extreme that the illusion has been openly shattered.
(From June)
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/jun...
(From June)
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/jun...
Are we witnessing the death of international law?
The long read: A growing number of scholars and lawyers are losing faith in the current system. Others say the law is not to blame, but the states that are supposed to uphold it
www.theguardian.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM
In a sense the powerful have always been above the law, but 1 thing that has changed is the illusion: the gap between rhetoric & reality, between symbolism & action, is now so obvious and extreme that the illusion has been openly shattered.
(From June)
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/jun...
(From June)
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/jun...
AI news analysis system promoting the work of AI in scholarship 🤔
August 12, 2025 at 10:19 PM
AI news analysis system promoting the work of AI in scholarship 🤔
Betteridge's Law of Headlines -- "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no" -- remains undefeated
August 12, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Betteridge's Law of Headlines -- "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no" -- remains undefeated
Did AI write this? Why yes it did.
August 12, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Did AI write this? Why yes it did.
Archaeology and cultural heritage continuing to play their role in the Israeli movement to annex the West Bank.
August 11, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Archaeology and cultural heritage continuing to play their role in the Israeli movement to annex the West Bank.
Haven't seen it commented on, but it looks like this photo was taken in the infamous "Pilgrims' Road" or "Pilgrimage Way" tunnel under Silwan (East Jerusalem) -- an Israeli excavation violating international law, archaeological standards of the last 100+ years, and basic ethics.
Source sends along this photo from House Democrats’ AIPAC-led trip to Israel.
Reps in the photo include: Pete Aguilar, Brad Schneider, Johnny Olszewski, Nellie Pou, Gil Cisneros, Laura Gillen, Tim Kennedy, Luz Rivas and Wesley Bell
Reps in the photo include: Pete Aguilar, Brad Schneider, Johnny Olszewski, Nellie Pou, Gil Cisneros, Laura Gillen, Tim Kennedy, Luz Rivas and Wesley Bell
August 11, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Haven't seen it commented on, but it looks like this photo was taken in the infamous "Pilgrims' Road" or "Pilgrimage Way" tunnel under Silwan (East Jerusalem) -- an Israeli excavation violating international law, archaeological standards of the last 100+ years, and basic ethics.
Not sure what Live Science is doing here but it's worth a brief look 🧵
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
Ottoman-era burial found in Israel may violate Islamic tradition
The unusual grave of a Bedouin woman who may have been buried with her son was found in southern Israel.
www.livescience.com
June 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Not sure what Live Science is doing here but it's worth a brief look 🧵
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
Reposted by Michael Press
Forget that old shit, how do they explain this?
June 5, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Forget that old shit, how do they explain this?
The tragedy of the murder aside, I can't believe this is a real headline at something trying to be a reputable news outlet.
June 4, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The tragedy of the murder aside, I can't believe this is a real headline at something trying to be a reputable news outlet.
Hey @palexfund.bsky.social turns out the Joint Expedition to Samaria may or may not have happened.
June 3, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Hey @palexfund.bsky.social turns out the Joint Expedition to Samaria may or may not have happened.
The Case for Retraction of Academic Authentications of Forged Fragments
www.ancientjewreview.com/read/2025/5/...
www.ancientjewreview.com/read/2025/5/...
The Case for Retraction of Academic Authentications of Forged Fragments — ANCIENT JEW REVIEW
This position paper issues a call for editors and publishers with oversight over peer-reviewed publications of inauthentic post-2002 Dead Sea Scroll-like fragments to embark on the processes that woul...
www.ancientjewreview.com
May 29, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The Case for Retraction of Academic Authentications of Forged Fragments
www.ancientjewreview.com/read/2025/5/...
www.ancientjewreview.com/read/2025/5/...
A young Stanley Kubrick sits in on drums with George Lewis's Ragtime Band, New Orleans, 1950
May 27, 2025 at 3:34 PM
A young Stanley Kubrick sits in on drums with George Lewis's Ragtime Band, New Orleans, 1950
Mamilla Pool and the surrounding cemetery photographed by Auguste Salzmann, 1854
(Marjorie and Leonard Vernon Collection, LACMA)
collections.lacma.org/node/216893
(Marjorie and Leonard Vernon Collection, LACMA)
collections.lacma.org/node/216893
May 27, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Mamilla Pool and the surrounding cemetery photographed by Auguste Salzmann, 1854
(Marjorie and Leonard Vernon Collection, LACMA)
collections.lacma.org/node/216893
(Marjorie and Leonard Vernon Collection, LACMA)
collections.lacma.org/node/216893
Building a "Museum of Tolerance" on top of Muslim graves wasn't enough. Netanyahu has announced that Israel is going for more of Mamilla Cemetery -- by announcing plans to restore Mamilla Pool.
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
PM’s Jerusalem Day declaration triggers archaeological dispute over Mamilla pool site | The National
Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu wants ancient reservoir site surrounded by Muslim burials to be developed into tourism site
www.thenationalnews.com
May 27, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Building a "Museum of Tolerance" on top of Muslim graves wasn't enough. Netanyahu has announced that Israel is going for more of Mamilla Cemetery -- by announcing plans to restore Mamilla Pool.
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
Wondering if Haaretz is getting tired of claiming there is some race here for more Dead Sea Scrolls.
(The race ended 60 or 70 years ago. The Bedouin mostly won.)
(The race ended 60 or 70 years ago. The Bedouin mostly won.)
May 27, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Wondering if Haaretz is getting tired of claiming there is some race here for more Dead Sea Scrolls.
(The race ended 60 or 70 years ago. The Bedouin mostly won.)
(The race ended 60 or 70 years ago. The Bedouin mostly won.)