Through the Ages in Palestinian Archaeology

Book excerpt: The public s continuing fascination with Near Eastern archaeology has often been frustrated by highly technical and specialized studies. This volume masterfully rectifies that situation. Here, in concise and readable form, is a comprehensive introduction to Palestinian archaeology (the region encompassed by the State of Israel, the West Bank, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan) from the Stone Age to the Islamic period. Readers are provided with clear explanations of unfamiliar terms, geographical locations, dates, archaeological procedures, links with biblical text, and the like. Photo illustrations enhance the presentation throughout. Selected bibliographies for each chapter direct readers to appropriate resources for additional information. Through the Ages of Palestinian Archaeology constitutes a handy reference both for those already familiar with archaeology and for those who know little of why archaeologists do what they do and what can be learned from their work and their discoveries. Walter E. Rast is Professor in the Department of Theology at Valparaiso University in Indiana. He is second vice-president of the American Schools of Oriental Research and former editor of the Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. With R. Thomas Schaub, he is author/editor of The Expedition to the Dead Sea Plain Series whose first volume, Bab ed-Dhra, is now in print.