One of the most strongly felt currents in contemporary ancient Near Eastern archaeology is an almost automatic aversion on the part of most practitioners in the field to the very term “Biblical Archaeology.” So much so, very few practicing archaeologists are willing to identify themselves as “biblical archaeologists,” in light of feeling that the very name denotes an antiquated, parochial and ideologically driven endeavor. Thus, for example, several years ago, the editors of the journal Biblical Archaeologist expressed a wish to change the name of the journal to a more “modern” and up-to-date name (Near Eastern Archaeology) and held a poll among their readers. Despite the fact that there was an overall majority among the readers (of which, clearly, many are not professional archaeologists) to retain the old name, the editors changed the name to the suggested (and currently used) name.
It would seem then that the very term Biblical Archaeology and what it represents has been undermined, and in many circles is viewed in a very negative manner …
I believe that … one of the central roles that the professional archaeologist has [is] to serve as a steward of the past, in a manner that evokes interest and meaning for the general public. A modern and updated approach to Biblical Archaeology (with capital B and A) can insure both a cutting-edge scientific approach to the study of the ancient Near East, and at the same time, it can spark the interest, fascination and imagination of the public—the true constituency of our work! …
Shying away from this is a haven for a narrow-minded, simplistic understanding of the relevant cultures and periods … Not to utilize the archaeological evidence as a possible tool to understand further aspects of the Biblical text is foolish …
Biblical Archaeology can, and should, continue, and it can, and must, be accessible and interesting to the lay public.
From Aren M. Maeir, “Stones, Bones, Texts and Relevance—Or, How I Lost My Fear of Biblical Archaeology and Started Enjoying It,” in Thomas E. Levy, ed., Historical Biblical Archaeology and the Future: The New Pragmatism (London: Equinox, 2010). Maeir is chairman of the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University and directs the excavation at the Philistine site of Tell es-Safi/Gath.
One of the most strongly felt currents in contemporary ancient Near Eastern archaeology is an almost automatic aversion on the part of most practitioners in the field to the very term “Biblical Archaeology.” So much so, very few practicing archaeologists are willing to identify themselves as “biblical archaeologists,” in light of feeling that the very name denotes an antiquated, parochial and ideologically driven endeavor. Thus, for example, several years ago, the editors of the journal Biblical Archaeologist expressed a wish to change the name of the journal to a more “modern” and up-to-date name (Near Eastern Archaeology) and held […]
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