Archaeological Views: Biblical Archaeology in the 21st Century

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Archaeology in 2013 bears little resemblance to my first and unforgettable experience as a student volunteer at Tel Dan in 1974—yikes, nearly four decades ago! This was a time when archaeology was still perceived as Israel’s national hobby, closely intertwined with efforts to forge a shared Jewish identity and connection with the Land of Israel. This also predated the identity crisis of “Biblical archaeology” during the last decades of the 20th century, when many archaeologists (and other scholars) still considered the discipline a subfield of Biblical studies.

As an archaeologist digging in Israel in the 21st century, I am especially impressed with the way new technologies have transformed fieldwork, irreversibly changing our approach to how archaeology is practiced and taught. These new technologies have also profoundly expanded our ability to address a wider range of questions about the past.^a

Though the excitement of digging is still there, fieldwork at most excavations requires technologies and skills that were unimaginable just a couple of decades ago. Due in part to conservation concerns (as well as budgetary constraints), less exploration is done via excavation. Before a spade hits the ground, many projects conduct extensive surveys that use geophysical prospecting—for example, geomagnetic investigations, electrical resistivity tomography, aerial and satellite images and intensive pedestrian surveys accompanied by small subsurface soundings (pit testing). The emphasis is often on non-intrusive documentation of a site and concomitantly less excavation.

When digging does occur, new questions are being asked of the archaeological remains. Increasingly, efforts are made to extract evidence not readily visible to the naked eye. On-site micro-archaeology, or information that can be documented via a microscope, is one of the more exciting approaches to maximize data collection to address more nuanced questions. While the use of science in archaeological investigations is not new, remarkably it is now possible to conduct scientific analyses in real time in field laboratories set up during the actual excavation. This allows feedback and collaboration between archaeologists and scientists, which often results in refinements in excavation strategy. At Dor, Tell es-Safi/Gath, Megiddo and Tel Akko, scientists from the Weizmann Institute’s Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science (www.weizmann.ac.il/kimmel-arch/) have been working alongside archaeologists during the actual excavation season to harness the power of scientific analyses to address questions that traditional archaeological techniques cannot even begin to explore. In some cases, for example, the discovery of bronze and iron production side-by-side in early Iron II levels at Tell es-Safi/Gath has transformed our understanding of ancient metallurgy.¹

Documentation of excavations is now increasingly done in real space, implementing differential Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and total stations that record measurements based on a projected real-world coordinate system using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Sophisticated digital databases integrate field diaries, photos, drawings and videos. And excavations are now recorded extensively by digital cameras, laser scanners and computers. At Tel Akko, where I codirect excavations with Michal Artzy of the University of Haifa, we have developed a new state-of-the-art 3D documentation system.² Our approach uses digital cameras, either hand-held or attached to a mast, a helium balloon or remote-controlled miniature helicopter, and PhotoScan, a photogrammetry software program developed by Agisoft. In the field, this technique produces a georeferenced orthophoto, which is used to create a digital plan with sub-centimeter spatial accuracy and a 3D image. All this is a far cry from the laying out of grids using tape measures and dumpy levels that I remember, where human errors are inevitable—especially under the hot summer sun—and are compounded over time.

New imaging technologies are also revolutionizing our ability to document and interpret artifacts. Hand-drawn objects have been the staple of all archaeological reports for more than a century. Recently, however, scientists from the Weizmann Institute and archaeologists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have established the Computerized Archaeology Laboratory. Using high-precision scanners, highly accurate drawings and photographs can be produced quickly and affordably. These can then be used to create mathematically based, automated pottery typologies.

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By embracing new approaches and technologies of the 21st century, we are opening up previously unexplored frontiers for understanding the world of the Bible and our shared past.

Archaeology in 2013 bears little resemblance to my first and unforgettable experience as a student volunteer at Tel Dan in 1974—yikes, nearly four decades ago! This was a time when archaeology was still perceived as Israel’s national hobby, closely intertwined with efforts to forge a shared Jewish identity and connection with the Land of Israel. This also predated the identity crisis of “Biblical archaeology” during the last decades of the 20th century, when many archaeologists (and other scholars) still considered the discipline a subfield of Biblical studies. As an archaeologist digging in Israel in the 21st century, I am […]