Footnote 2 – A “Centrist” at the Center of Controversy
The large majority of these people either work at Megiddo, where Professor Finkelstein co-directs the excavation, or are graduate students at Tel Aviv University, where Professor Finkelstein heads the Institute of Archaeology, or both. Orna Zimhoni, who died in 1996, was both. One person familiar with the situation told us, “It is interesting how many Megiddo/TAU people do not agree with [Professor Finkelstein’s] dating, or at least are remaining on the fence. When people visit the site, it’s funny how they simply assume that we all agree with Finkelstein since we are a part of the team digging there.”
Note that Professor David Ussishkin, who co-directs the dig at Megiddo, is on both Finkelstein’s list and mine. If we hear from Professor Ussishkin about whether one of us erred, we will surely report to BAR readers. Nadav Na’aman is also on Finkelstein’s list, which surprised us. Hearing from him on the subject remains, as the scholars say, a desideratum. If we do hear from him, we will let you know.
One final point: There are 15 people on Professor Finkelstein’s list. He himself makes 16. There are at least two opponents of his whom he “definitely respects.” Since there are only 20 people whom Professor Finkelstein says really understand the issue, that leaves only two other people in the entire world who understand the issue. One must wonder at a problem that is either so complex that virtually no one can understand it or that so many scholars are so obtuse in failing to understand it.—H.S.