Was there a historical King David? What does it mean to excavate sites that have significance for contemporary religious communities? This class puts texts from the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament) into conversation with archaeological remains from the ancient world. We will discuss how archaeologists interpret remains of past societies and what role biblical stories have had (and should have) in the process. We will also explore the politics of archaeology—how nationalism and geopolitics affect our reconstruction of the past. In addition, we will discuss how knowledge of archaeology can enrich our understanding of the Bible and other texts from the ancient world, and we will explore the limits of archaeology as a discipline. Chronologically, the course covers a period of approximately a thousand years from the Late Bronze Age (1550 BCE) through the early Achaemenid Period (500 BCE). Topical sessions will explore broader thematic issues, such as the archaeology of sacred space and the problems of looting and forgeries.

Course Requirements:

Students will be evaluated based on written assignments and a class presentation.

Intended Audience:

Undergraduate students with an interest in Middle East Studies, religious studies, archaeology, Judaic studies, and politics

Class Format:

Two 90-minute meetings weekly