Still, there is still a lot of the site to be investigated.Р”Р‡or more info about this dig, check at the official site at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (where Rami Arav teaches) or the semi-official site run by Shai Schwartz.

ThereРІР‚в„ўs the Temple, but itРІР‚в„ўs hard to see how it was very impressive as anything in the 1st century. Of course there is still lots to excavate, but no sign of PhilipРІР‚в„ўs tomb which IРІР‚в„ўm kind of imagining to be at least close to the scale of HerodРІР‚в„ўs at Herodium. WhatРІР‚в„ўs missing to confirm identification as the Bethsaida? Well, it still doesnРІР‚в„ўt look like it was much of a polis. (We found a silver Cleopatra coin while I was working from late 1st century BCE.) In terms of architecture, they were working in one area that was 1st century CE. We and others before us found Herodian lamps, limestone vessels, and coins that all indicate 1st century BCE/CE Jewish habitation. In terms of artifacts, there is much to commend e-Tell (especially as compared to the Araj site for which there is not any excavation evidence yet). I wonder if maybe things were already getting difficult, and it perhaps is not a surprise that the New Testament locates Peter, James, and John in Capernaum rather than their home town of Bethsaida. They have determined that there was some kind of lagoon system below e-Tell in the 1st century, so it certainly was accessible to the Sea. Well, IРІР‚в„ўm not a true believer, but IРІР‚в„ўm pretty much persuaded. After digging at the site, I think IРІР‚в„ўm supposed to be a true believer that it is! I'm well aware that there is some skepticism whether e-Tell actually is Bethsaida. I did it for my own collection, so it features ME!, but there is enough general information to be helpful to others.

This photo book provides a quick overview of the first two weeks of the archaeological dig at Bethsaida this summer.

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