Ancient Israel did not emerge within a vacuum but rather came to exist alongside various peoples, including Canaanites, Egyptians, and Philistines. Indeed, Israel's very proximity to these groups has made it difficult—until now—to distinguish the archaeological traces of early Israel and other contemporary groups. Through an analysis of the results from recent excavations in light of relevant historical and later biblical texts, this book proposes that it is possible to identify these peoples and trace culturally or ethnically defined boundaries in the archaeological record. Features of late second-millennium B.C.E. culture are critically examined in their historical and biblical contexts in order to define the complex social boundaries of the early Iron Age and reconstruct the diverse material world of these four peoples. Of particular value to scholars, archaeologists, and historians, this volume will also be a standard reference and resource for students and other readers interested in the emergence of early Israel.
Ann E. Killebrew, Assistant Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Jewish Studies at The Pennsylvania State University, is a seasoned field archaeologist and co-editor of Jerusalem in Bible and Archaeology: The First Temple Period with Andrew Vaughn.
For those of you who are SBL members and plan to attend the conference in Philadelphia, you can attend a special section devoted to the book and related topics:
S19-5Biblical Lands and Peoples in Archaeology and Text 11/19/2005, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM Room: Room 108-B - Pennsylvania Convention Center
Theme: Ethnicity in Ancient Israel Andrew Vaughn, Gustavus Adolphus College, Presiding
Kent Sparks, Eastern University, "Tribal Ethnicities in Iron I Israel: Data and Method" (25 min)
Discussion (5 min)
Tom Levy, University of California, San Diego, "Ethno-genesis and Iron Age Edom: Nomadism, Archaeology and Identity" (25 min)
Discussion (5 min)
Ann E. Killebrew, Pennsylvania State University, "Reflections on Writing a Book on Ethnicity of Biblical Peoples" (10 min) Katharine Doob Sakenfeld, Princeton Theological, Respondent (10 min) Donald Redford, Pennsylvania State University, Respondent (10 min) Gunnar Lehmann, Ben Gurion University, Respondent (10 min)
Discussion (10 min)
William Dever, University of Arizona, "Ethnicity and the Archaeological Record: The Case of Early Israel" (25 min)
Biblical Book of the Month
with Andrew Vaughn.
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