What is Biblical Archaeology? The term refers to a special focus of archaeology typically limited to areas mentioned in the Bible, places such as modern-day Israel, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, and Iran. The aim of Biblical Archaeology is to find physical evidence that would shed light on people, places, events, and customs described in the Bible.
Traditionally, the term “Biblical Archaeology” refers to the study of the archaeological aspects of the history of the Jewish and Christian churches as provided in the Old and New Testament, including the Dead Sea Scrolls. Some, but by no means all, biblical scholars are interested in proving the absolute truth of the Bible. Others see the Bible as a historical document, and seek to find evidence supporting some of the events reported.
On Thursday, Nov. 2, ACE: Arts, Culture and Education at the Boulder JCC presents “The Bible and Archaeology: Where They Meet, Where They Don’t and Why,” with esteemed scholar David Ilan:
It is now clear that archaeology finding and the biblical narrative often do not correspond. This is troubling to some people and fascinating for others. Most importantly it raises questions about the nature of the biblical text and archaeological method. I will introduce selected parts of the biblical narrative and we will discuss why some are not borne out in the archaeological evidence and others most definitely are.
Professor David Ilan is a native of Los Angeles and has lived in Israel since 1976. He completed his BA and MA degrees at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and his Ph.D at Tel Aviv University.
Professor Ilan has excavated at Tel Arad with Ruth Amiran, Tel Dan with Avraham Biran, and at Tel Megiddo with Israel Finkelstein, David Ussishkin and Baruch Halpern.
After a three-year stint as lecturer at Tel Aviv University in the Department of Archaeology, Professor Ilan became director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Jerusalem campus of the Hebrew Union College.
His publications deal with a wide range of subjects: The Middle Bronze Age of the southern Levant; the archaeology of death; northern Israel in the early Iron Age; community and archaeology; and the problem of antiquities plunder and trade. He is currently preparing a series of final publications on the Tel Dan excavations with the staff of the Nelson Glueck School.
David lives with his partner Lilach in Jerusalem. They have four sons between them.
To register for ACE’s Lunch and Learn at noon, Thursday, November 2, CLICK HERE.
“Archaeology and the Bible” is co-sponsored by Hadassah and Congregation Har Hashem.