Absence of Evidence: Starting a List

I counted 40 hours of face-to-face teaching time with our students in the first 7 days. Admin is on top of that. Tomorrow is my first day “off” – that is, I don’t teach any classes, but lead a field trip starting at 6pm and going for the next 23 hours.

One thing that came up in class recently was various things for which we have solid historical evidence but no traces archaeologically. One near-example of this is crucifixion; of tens of thousands of people who were hung on trees between 500 B.C. and 400 A.D., archaeological evidence for crucifixion has been found in only one instance. But there are many other examples where no archaeological evidence exists at all, but where one would expect to find some. I’m motivated to develop a list of these, and would be happy to take any suggestions. I’m especially looking for things mentioned outside the Bible but relevant to the world of the Bible. That is, things that most scholars agree existed. Here’s a start, with more related to Jerusalem since that’s what I’ve been thinking most about this week:

No evidence:
1. Hippodrome in Jerusalem
2. Antonia Fortress
3. Akra
4. Second Wall of Jerusalem
5. Cambyses II’s army of 50,000 destroyed in Sinai sandstorm (some regard Herodotus’ story as a myth)
6. Fortifications of Megiddo in 15th c. (still no evidence?)
7. High place of Bethel

Very little evidence:
1. Theater in Jerusalem (a few seats recently identified)
2. Jerusalem in Amarna age (14th c.)
3. Post-exilic Jerusalem

Disputed:
Polis of Bethsaida

There’s got to be many more, but I’ll start with this. Any ideas are welcome.