The Forum

Sell Excess Antiquities!

I fully support your idea of a controlled sale of antiquities when there are many such examples—such as oil lamps. At one time I worked for a company that dealt in antiquities and managed to procure a small collection of my own. Your magazines and my research in antiquities enhanced my visit to Israel two years ago.

The Antiquities Market Destroys Archaeological Sites

Recently I was offered the opportunity to receive a sample issue of your magazine Archaeology Odyssey. After reviewing the sample I would have subscribed were it not for the fact that you accept advertisements for artifacts. Even assuming that these artifacts were collected and imported legally, such commerce depends on the destruction of archaeological sites. I do not see how a publication purporting to support archaeology can accept advertising from such merchants.

B.C.E., C.E., B.C., A.D.

There is something that bothers me: the new method (to me) of identifying the major eras as B.C.E. and C.E. rather than as B.C. and A.D. We have long used B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini) to designate the eras. Why the need for B.C.E. (Before the Christian Era) and C.E. (Christian Era)?