ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE LAND OF THE BIBLE (Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library);

The second volume of the distinguished Anchor Bible Reference Library preesents a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the archaelogical research in the Land of the Bible. Israeli archaelogist Amihai Mazar introduces the achievements of the dynamic archaeological research in Israel and Jordan and discusses its implications for our knowledge of the world of the Old Testament. The volume covers the period starting with the first permanent settlements around 10,000 B.C.E., and ends with the destruction of the First Temple by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C.E. and the Babylonian domination of the country. Each of the archaelogical periods is presented against its historical and biblical background. Various aspects of the material culture of each period are discussed: the distribution of settlements, the discoveries in the main sites, aspects of civil and religious architecture, pottery making, metallurgy, agriculture, crafts and arts, weapons, jewelry, ritual objects, writing, burial customs, and evidence for trade and cultural relations with neighboring countries. All these subjects are briefly introduced to create the jigsaw puzzle out of which archaelogists reconstruct the cultural history of the country. The relationship between the archaelogical evidence and biblical history is discussed in all relevant chapters. The book is illustrated with hundreds of line drawings, maps, photographs, and charts. Bibliographic references provide access to the most recent publications on each of the issues under discussion. This introductory synthesis was written for students and scholars, as well as for those readers interested in expanding their knowledge of the Bible and its world.