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Primary Sources
Biblical Archaeology: Documents from the British Museum
T. C. Mitchell
(Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1988) 112 pp., 73 illustrations, $12.95, paper
With this book, T. C. Mitchell, Keeper of Western Asiatic Antiquities in the British Museum, continues in a long tradition of British Museum scholars who have utilized the unparalleled collection of inscriptions and other antiquities in their care to illuminate aspects of Biblical history and culture for a popular audience. The author has selected 60 “documents” that are relevant for a fuller understanding of the Biblical world. Most of these are, in fact, documents or are objects that bear inscriptions; but some uninscribed artifacts of pottery, ivory and statuary are also classified as documents for purposes of their presentation in this book. Mitchell also includes two inscriptions from outside the museum because of their special importance to Biblical history: the Merneptah stela (Cairo), which contains the earliest extra Biblical mention of the Israelite people in Canaan (late 13th century B.C.), and the Moabite stone (Louvre), which relates the story of the ninth-century B.C. conflict between Israel and Moab from the Moabite point of view.
After brief introductory comments on the scope and history of Biblical archaeology, on ancient writing systems and on the Biblical world, Mitchell presents his selection of documents in chronological order. Each is described and illustrated, and its importance in the context of Biblical studies is discussed.
One of Mitchell’s aims is to help his readers get a feel for the nature of the primary evidence from which historical and archaeological syntheses are constructed. To that end, he has presented key passages from inscriptions in their original languages together with transliterations and translations. The transliterations, however, are occasionally marred by typographical errors that may confuse the attentive reader.
Particularly useful for additional study are the brief bibliographies for each of the documents in the “Further Reading” section at the end of the book. The listing of documents under “Further Reading” must also serve as a table of contents for those who want to look up a particular document, because the documents are not individually listed in the actual “Table of Contents,” a regrettable omission.
The black-and-white photographs and other illustrations are of excellent quality. Although the book is a paperback, it has been bound in signatures, so it should hold together well through repeated use.
At least in part, Biblical Archaeology: Documents from the British Museum was written to provide information about antiquities on display in the museum. A prior reading of this slim volume will certainly make a visit to the British Museum a richer and more enjoyable experience for those interested in Biblical archaeology. Additionally, it is, for the nonprofessional, a valuable introduction to some of the most important extra-Biblical sources we have concerning the Biblical world. Readers will gain an appreciation of the value of this archaeological material in elucidating the past and of its limitations as well.
BAR readers may order the book reviewed above directly from the Biblical Archaeology Society. Send a check or VISA/MasterCard information to 3000 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20008.
Primary Sources
Biblical Archaeology: Documents from the British Museum
T. C. Mitchell
(Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1988) 112 pp., 73 illustrations, $12.95, paper
