MILEVSKI, Ianir & LEVY, Thomas Evan (eds.) (2016) Framing Archaeology in the Near East. The Application of Social Theory to Fieldwork. London: Equinox. [Book review]

Review of bookNon peer reviewe

In the Footsteps of Bagira : ethnicity, archaeology, and ‘Iron I ethnic Israel’

Archaeology cannot find ethnicity "independently", but only with the help of written sources. The way one defines "ethnicity" is critical to ones' conclusions. Ethnic groups, as a type of imagined community, most likely existed already in prehistory; but without written sources, at least a collective name, we cannot fish them out. The article reviews a series of papers which try, in vain, to 'get' to ethnicity from material remains; and another series which tries, in vain, to prove (or refute) "Iron I Ethnic Israel". Bagira appears in a photo in the text.Peer reviewe

Farewell, King Arawna : The Threshing Floor of the Ark (2 Sam. 24)

The “threshing floor of Arawna” (or Araunah, Orna, Ornan) appears in the story about the altar built by King David to stop the plague (2 Sam. 24: 16b–25) caused by his census (2 Sam. 24:1–16a). It forms part of the so-called appendix to the book of Samuel (2 Sam. 21–24). There are many original interpretations of 2 Sam. 24, and the related 1 Chron. 21 and 4QSAMa. Studies treat the textual and literary aspects in detail and attempt to interpret the possible implications for the history of early Jerusalem, the Jebusites, the origins of the Jerusalem Temple, the figure of King David, and more. In this article, an alternative interpretation of the story about the “threshing floor of Arawna” is offered, which avoids plagiarism – at the price of losing the hero.Peer reviewe

Pit-Typology at Hirbet Salih/Ramat Rahel : On Favissae, Foundation Deposits, and Royal Feasts

Peer reviewe

Graves, Missing Graves, Ideology and Mortuary Rituals : A Mixed Salad in the Archaeological Bowl

At the core of this article stands the issue of identifying mortuary/funerary rituals and ideology from material remains. Case studies discuss biblical rituals and their possible / assumed relations to material remains from Iron II tombs in ancient Judah and Israel, such as lamps and headrests.Peer reviewe

Meeting a Learned Society : The Archaeology of ASOR as Reflected in its Annual Meeting, Boston 2017

This article is a study of the ASOR society, based on a database compiled from the 2017 annual meeting at Boston, one of the largest meetings in its history. Such a study has not been performed before. We study the research of ASOR as represented in the meeting by the roles of the scholar-members (poster presenters, lecture presenters, and session chairs), their research subjects (geographic areas, periods, and topics), and their affiliations (gender and institutions). The analysis leads to several questions – and conclusions – about Archaeology in the Ancient Near East (ANE). Despite important progress by ASOR (e.g., in addressing gender), ANE archaeology is still a privilege of the ‘west’. Rarely a ‘local’ scholar spices up the discussions. Modern politics and ideologies determine what areas are studied and what topics of research are ‘in’. Political neutrality is proclaimed, but not achieved, in the spaces of the meeting. The aim of the article is to foster discussion about these systematic issues, which do not have easy solutions. By presenting quantified data, they can no longer be dismissed as unsubstantiated, personal impressions.Peer reviewe

Iron Age II Clay Figurines and Zoomorphic Vessels

Written 2020, published August 2021We discuss 49 Iron Age II clay figurines and zoomorphic vessels, one mold and a unique stone figurine found at Tel Rehov in the Galilee, Israel. The figurines include a new type (freestanding plaque figurines); drummer female figurines; a drummer modified into a female and child figurine; zoomorphic vessels, and more. The conclusions relate to the interpretations and religious aspects of the figurines, and the difference between figurines in northern Israel and Southern Israel (Judah)..Peer reviewe

Vessels and Measures : The Biblical Liquid Capacity

Discussion of dry and liquid capacity measures in Judah/ the Bible/ ANE; LMlk jars; Bath, hin and other capacity measures existed already in the Iron Age; Albright estimation of bath as c. 20 liters was right as an inscribed jar from Lachish prooves. Tehre were no "lamlk stamp systems" or "jar handle systems" of administration in Judah - administaration was not sitting in a Shphelah pottery workshop obsessed with stamping (carelessly!) a minory of lmlk type jars; but in Jerusalem, issuing orders and writing on papyry which did not survive.Peer reviewe

A History of the Archaeological Museum of State of Israel in Jerusalem, 1949-1965.

This paper reviews the forgotten history of the museum of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums (hereafter IDAM) in Jerusalem, which until 1965 was the central archaeological museum of the State of Israel. From its humble beginnings with a small temporary exhibition in 1949, the creators of this museum gathered together a large and important collection of antiquities. These founders hoped to create the cornerstone for the future new central museum of Israel. However, the State entrusted the general manager of the Prime Minister’s office, Tedi Kollek with the establishment of this new museum. In 1962, Avraham Biran, who worked closely with Kollek, was appointed director of IDAM. Biran eventually transferred the treasures of the IDAM to the new Bronfman Museum, the archaeological section of the Israel Museum.Peer reviewe

Proto-Israelites: The Story of a Misleading Term

The prefix “proto”, originally from the Greek, carries several meanings, including first, earliest, original and primitive. A “prototype” is the first or original type, and “proto” may indicate something in the way of becoming. In this article we offer a critical review of the history and uses of the term “proto-Israelites” in biblical and archaeological studies since 1943. The prehistory of ‘early Israel’ has shrunk from the Early Bronze to the Iron Age, but the use of “proto-Israel” has grown since the 1990s, tied to issues of historicity and ethnicity. “Proto-Israelite” is a misleading term. It enables scholars to re-find a united, ethnic Israel, by projecting it onto the past in disguise, as “proto-Israel”. There are no “proto-people” that carry “proto-ethnicity”. The use of “proto-Israelites” serves modern ideologies. We suggest more neutral terms, which do not beg the question whether an Israelite ethnic community existed, or can be identified in material remains of the Iron Age I.Fil: Kletter, Raz. University of Helsinki; FinlandiaFil: Niesiołowski Spanò, Łukasz. Uniwersytet Warszawski; ArgentinaFil: Pfoh, Emanuel Oreste. Pont. Universidad Catolica Arg."sta.maria de Los Bs.as.". Facultad de Cs. Sociales, Politicas y de la Comunicación. Instituto de Investigaciones; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin