This book provides an introduction to the archaeology and history of ancient Palestine - modern Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories - from the destruction of Solomon's temple in 586 BCE to the Muslim conquest in 640 CE. Special attention is paid to the archaeology of Jerusalem and the Second Temple period, in the time of Herod the Great and Jesus. For each period, the book offers a historical background for the Mediterranean world and the ancient Near East, as well as the events in Palestine. Major sites such as Masada, Caesarea Maritima, and Petra are examined in archaeological and historical detail, along with the material culture - coins, pottery, glass, and stone vessels - of each period. This book provides a thorough overview of the archaeology of this historically vibrant part of the world.
The Archaeology of the Holy Land
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Book Description
This book provides an introduction to the archaeology and history of ancient Palestine - modern Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories - from the destruction of Solomon's temple in 586 BCE to the Muslim conquest in 640 CE. Special attention is paid to the archaeology of Jerusalem and the Second Temple period, in the time of Herod the Great and Jesus.
About the Author
Jodi Magness is the Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is the author and editor of several books, including Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit: Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus (2011), The Archaeology of the Early Islamic Settlement in Palestine (2003) and The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls (2002).
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
This fine book provides a thorough overview of the archaeology of this historically rich part of the world
November 26, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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****
"Yet archaeologists ... have failed to engage the larger intellectual issues--especially the challenge of integrating texts and artifacts in writing the real 'revisionist' histories of ancient Israel... one of the revisionists' major fault is that they ignore, cite selectively and cavalierly, misinterpret, distort, or otherwise abuse modern archaeology..." William G. Dever
William Dever, eminent American archaeologist, specializing in the history of Israel and the Near East in Biblical times, discussed two main trends in both archaeology and Biblical studies. The first was over-specialization, as archaeology became more theoretically sophisticated, less textually wedded, and more anthropologically oriented. The second development came when Biblical studies entered the historio-graphical crisis in the 1990s, that now sometimes called the 'Minimalist-Maximalist' controversy.
New archaeology moved away from being Biblical to a study of culture, it became interdisciplinary. In addition to radiocarbon dating and electron microscopes, advanced techniques introduced included neutron activation, gas chromatography, and DNA analysis. In the past three decades, archaeologists have made great strides in recovering the lost world of the Old Testament. Dozens of digs in the Levant changed experts' perception of ancient Israel and its neighbors, which is very well demonstrated here, by its author Jodi Magness.
This scholarly book provides an overview of the archaeology and history of ancient Palestine - modern Israel, and Jordan - to the advent of Islam in 640 CE. The archaeology of Jerusalem and the Second Temple, until 70 CE. It provides a historical background for the the ancient Near East world, as well as Palestine. Major sites as Masada, and Petra are explored with archaeology and history, along with cultural material as coins, glass, pottery, and vessels - of each period. I admired especially its plot plans, beautiful maps, and various plates which make the archaeology of the Holy land vivid.
"Yet archaeologists ... have failed to engage the larger intellectual issues--especially the challenge of integrating texts and artifacts in writing the real 'revisionist' histories of ancient Israel... one of the revisionists' major fault is that they ignore, cite selectively and cavalierly, misinterpret, distort, or otherwise abuse modern archaeology..." William G. Dever
William Dever, eminent American archaeologist, specializing in the history of Israel and the Near East in Biblical times, discussed two main trends in both archaeology and Biblical studies. The first was over-specialization, as archaeology became more theoretically sophisticated, less textually wedded, and more anthropologically oriented. The second development came when Biblical studies entered the historio-graphical crisis in the 1990s, that now sometimes called the 'Minimalist-Maximalist' controversy.
New archaeology moved away from being Biblical to a study of culture, it became interdisciplinary. In addition to radiocarbon dating and electron microscopes, advanced techniques introduced included neutron activation, gas chromatography, and DNA analysis. In the past three decades, archaeologists have made great strides in recovering the lost world of the Old Testament. Dozens of digs in the Levant changed experts' perception of ancient Israel and its neighbors, which is very well demonstrated here, by its author Jodi Magness.
This scholarly book provides an overview of the archaeology and history of ancient Palestine - modern Israel, and Jordan - to the advent of Islam in 640 CE. The archaeology of Jerusalem and the Second Temple, until 70 CE. It provides a historical background for the the ancient Near East world, as well as Palestine. Major sites as Masada, and Petra are explored with archaeology and history, along with cultural material as coins, glass, pottery, and vessels - of each period. I admired especially its plot plans, beautiful maps, and various plates which make the archaeology of the Holy land vivid.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
What I particularly like was the maps of Jerusalem in different historical ages,
and specifically after the revolt against Rome. Maps of the Israel area under
different rulers was also helpful.
The discussion of Masada was right on.
I like the Qumran discussions as well.
There is material here for me for much further study
than a first reading can give. This discussion and information
will be useful to biblical scholars of different religions as well.
and specifically after the revolt against Rome. Maps of the Israel area under
different rulers was also helpful.
The discussion of Masada was right on.
I like the Qumran discussions as well.
There is material here for me for much further study
than a first reading can give. This discussion and information
will be useful to biblical scholars of different religions as well.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
The history of the Holy Land is an area in which I have a fair amount of interest; it's not among my favorite historical subjects, but it's up there. I have only a vague familiarity with archaeology, I'm afraid, but was looking for an opportunity to brush up on the subject, get a bit of a layman's guide.
That's what this book seemed to me to be written as, based on its subject matter, organization, and the depth with which it treated those subjects. Unfortunately, the very dry presentation gave me the distinct impression that it was written for a far more advanced audience. Maybe it was; but it will attract casually interested readers like me. I found it technical and hard to follow. It was still informative, but getting to that information frankly required more effort than I wanted to invest. That may make me sound like a lazy reader. I don't think I am, but so be it. I can tell you that most people I know who have similar interests to mine would very likely give up on this book before getting to the pearls of wisdom it contains.
That's what this book seemed to me to be written as, based on its subject matter, organization, and the depth with which it treated those subjects. Unfortunately, the very dry presentation gave me the distinct impression that it was written for a far more advanced audience. Maybe it was; but it will attract casually interested readers like me. I found it technical and hard to follow. It was still informative, but getting to that information frankly required more effort than I wanted to invest. That may make me sound like a lazy reader. I don't think I am, but so be it. I can tell you that most people I know who have similar interests to mine would very likely give up on this book before getting to the pearls of wisdom it contains.
