Archaeologists Unscramble Ancient Graffiti In Israel

Some excerpts from:
Archaeologists Unscramble Ancient Graffiti In Israel

by JACKI LYDEN

...An expedition to the Southern Galilee a few hours north ends at the site of one of the country's richest burial sites: Beit She'arim. It is both national park and necropolis; a city of the dead dating back to the first century. There are more than 30 excavated tombs here...

...There are magical spells in Greek. There are also curses in Aramaic that threaten a bad fate to the tomb robber. Those seem to have been ignored, as only the graffiti and heavy stone coffins are left.

In the dark, the effect — particularly in these tiny messages — is to hear the dead speaking. It's peaceful, but lively. One gets the sense of a giant Facebook page of the ancient world....

Whole story here:
http://www.npr.org/2011/06/19/137257434/archaeologists-unscramble-ancient-graffiti-in-israel&sc=nl&cc=nh-20110619