Just a couple of unrelated articles on recent developments in the world of Biblical archeology.

The first is the story of how two pieces of a single Exodus scroll from the 7th century were reunited for the first time in centuries recently.  Amazing what technology can do nowadays, isn't it?

The second was interesting to me as I just finished reading The Da Vinci Code.  A nail has been found in a tomb from a castle once held by Templar knights, who are of course the historical group that Dan Brown builds much of his book around.  Because of the place the nail was found - in a tomb that may include at least one Templar knight - and because of the good condition of the nail, there are some who speculate that it must have been believed to be one of the nails from Jesus' cross. 

Did I mention that the nail dates to the first or second century?  Jesus was crucified in either 30 or 33 CE/AD of the first century.

Of course, this would not be the only nail reputed to be from the cross of the Christ.  At least one historical account presumes to describe the recovery of the nails by Constantine's mother, who allegedly fashioned them into various purposes.  I'm not personally too concerned about the speculations, as I believe they are only that, speculations.  I thought it interesting that a Muslim news site ran a slightly abbreviated version of the story.  Considering the Muslims don't believe that Jesus was crucified, this struck me as curious.