Biblical archaeology

Biblical archaeology involves the recovery and scientific investigation of the material remains of past cultures that can illuminate the periods and descriptions in the Bible. As with the historical records from any other civilization, the manuscripts must be compared to other accounts from contemporary societies in Europe, Mesopotamia, and Africa; additionally, records from neighbors must be compared with them. The scientific techniques employed are those of archaeology in general including excavations as well as chance discoveries.

Milestones Prior to World War I

Biblical Archaeology began after publication by Edward Robinson (American professor of Biblical literature; 1794-1863) of his travels through Israel during the first half of the 19th century (a time when the oldest complete Hebrew scripture only dated to the Middle Ages), which highlighted similarities between modern Arabic place-names and Biblical city names.

Related Topics:
Edward Robinson (American professor of Biblical literature; 1794-1863) - Israel - Hebrew - Middle Ages

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The Palestine Exploration Fund sponsored detailed surveys led by Charles Warren during the late 1860s (initially financed by Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts in 1864 to improve Jerusalem's sanitary conditions), which culminated with the formal publication of "The Survey of Western Palestine" from 1871-1877. The highlight of this period was Warren's work around the Temple Mount of Jerusalem, where he discovered the foundation stones of Herod's Temple, the first Israelite inscriptions on several jar handles with LMLK seals, and water shafts (probably pre-Israelite) under the City of David.

Related Topics:
Charles Warren - Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts - 1864 - Jerusalem - Temple Mount - Herod's Temple - Israelite - LMLK seal - City of David

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• 1890 Sir W.M.F. Petrie noticed strata exposed by waterflow adjacent to Tell el-Hesi (originally believed to be Biblical Lachish, now probably Eglon) and popularized details of pottery groups excavated therefrom. F.J. Bliss continued digging there in 1891-2.

Subsequent highlights of major sites mentioned in the Bible where excavations spanned more than one season:

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• 1898-1900 F.J. Bliss and R.A.S. Macalister excavated 4 major sites in the ] region of Israel:
• Tell es-Safi (probably Biblical Gath)
• Tell Zakariya (probably Biblical Azekah)
• Tell ej-Judeideh (possibly Biblical Moresheth-Gath or Libnah)
• Tell Sandahannah (probably Biblical Mareshah)
• 1902-3, 1907-9 R.A.S. Macalister excavated Gezer, where the oldest Hebrew inscription (Gezer Calendar) was found on the surface
• 1902-4 E. Sellin excavated Taanach
• 1903-5 G. Schumacher excavated Megiddo
• 1905-7 H. Kohl, E. Sellin, and C. Watzinger surveyed ancient synagogues in Galilee
• 1907-9 E. Sellin and C. Watzinger excavated Shechem
• 1908, 1910-1 D.G. Lyon, C.S. Fisher, and G.A. Reisner excavated Samaria
• 1911-3 D. Mackenzie excavated Beth Shemesh