Archaeology and the Bible

[batman]

Hello to everyone! I'm new here...

I am debating with someone who makes the following claims regarding biblical archaeology:

The majority of biblical archaeological finds took place in the 19th century and fell off sharply during the 20th century because the scientific method and standards of archaeology were not applied to the 19th century finds. They have been applied to the 20th century finds, hence the drop off. He also claims that non-archaeologists and fortune hunters looking for profit made most of these finds. He also cites provenance as a major issue.

Is what he claims true? How can I rebut this?

[notalent]

Hello to everyone! I'm new here...

I am debating with someone who makes the following claims regarding biblical archaeology:

The majority of biblical archaeological finds took place in the 19th century and fell off sharply during the 20th century because the scientific method and standards of archaeology were not applied to the 19th century finds. They have been applied to the 20th century finds, hence the drop off. He also claims that non-archaeologists and fortune hunters looking for profit made most of these finds. He also cites provenance as a major issue.

Is what he claims true? How can I rebut this?

Being a new member, you're pretty much an unknown quantity, making it difficult to judge how accurately you've represented the views of another unknown party.  The summary provided is pretty vague and overgeneralized.  If it's really as you represented it, then there seems little profit in even responding to it for the reasons cited.

Other than that, welcome aboard. 

[batman]

My thanks go out to a friend who emailed me with the following response:

During the 1800's there were alot of discoveries made especially in present day Iraq and Iran. Iraq once being the site of the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires. And Iran the Persian Empire, They are the empires mentioned in many Old Testament books and prophets who lived during this time frame. Many important artifacts where found simply because this was the first time men set out on explorations of these ancient sites in search for artifacts. These early explorations laid the groundwork that would lead to the discipline or field of study in archaeology we have today. Early expeditions to sites in Iraq and other countries had much easier access to ancient sites then we have today. For example, in 1936 Iraq placed legal restrictions on foreign excavations.which continued under Saddam Hussein. Exploration of Persian sites in Iran are now controlled by the Iranian Islamic government who really are not much interested in wanting to see the Jewish Old Testament verified. And on and on it goes.
Secondly. I hope he is not implying that the artifacts found the the 1800's from expeditions to Babylonian and Assyrian sites are somehow not reliable artifacts because they don't meet his modern day provenced guidelines. Im sure the British Museum which houses the vast majority of these artifacts would get a chuckle out of it.
And to say that there are lesser Biblical Archaeology finds in the twentieth century is ridiculous. The list below is just a partial list.
1903 Jeroboam seal found at Megiddo
1905 "Gallio, my friend and proconsul" inscription Delphi, Greece
1920-1930 Ziggurat at UR
1921-1931 excavatons found Beth-Shan Stela ANET255 mentions Apiru (Hebrew)
1929 Erastus inscription found in Corinth
1931 Uzziah burial Inscription found in Jerusalem
1932 "Jaazaniah, servant of the king" seal
1935 Lachish Letters
1935 Hannaniah son of Gedaliah seal found at Lachish
1947 Dead Sea Scrolls
1961 "Pontius Pilate Perfect of Judea" Inscription found in , Caesarea . Israel
1967 Balaam Inscription found at Deir Alla, Jordan archaeologists found an inscription 'Warnings given by Balaam. the son of Beor."
1975 "Baruch, son of Neriah" seal , "Elishama" seal, "Jerahmeel son of the King" found in Israel
1978 "Azariah son of Hilkiah Bulla" found in Jerusalem
1979 Siver Scroll records Numbers 6:24-26 found near Jerusalem
1983 "Gemariah, son of Shaphan bulla
1990 "Caiaphas" Ossuary discovered in Jerusalem
1993 Tel Dan Stele Found - "House of David" found at Tell dan in northern Israel by archaeologists under the direction of Avraham Biran
2004 Pool of Siloam Unearthed
2005 "Jehucal" seal found in Jerusalem
2008 "Gedaliah, son of Pashhur seal found in Jerusalem

[batman]

...however, if there is anyone who can add to this information, I would be very eager to see it.

Thanks again to everyone. 

[bgainwell]

I have taken Old and New Testament and several other classes about the bible and all were very helpful in giving me more knowledge about Jesus.  But when I began to read and study the materials in the Biblical Arcaheology class, I realize that there is so much to know about the land that Jesus lived in while he was here on this earth. 

I will probably never have the opportunity to see many of the places that I have learned about but i can say that throught the picutres, and websites, books and articles I have been blessed to discover, I ammore sure then ever that I have the necessary tools to be a great servant for Christ Jesus.

Although I'm not saying that I needed this information on a day to day basis, and I amy never have the opportunity to even share it with anyone other than my own family.What I have learned is that when you really study something you know it to be true. 

There is nothing wrong about wanting evidence to substainiate yur belief if the belief systemhas already been established.  Learning about the cultures and people ofthe past gives Christians a special knwoledge thati believe God intended for us to know.

The Amarna letters which consist of 382 tablets wasdiscoveredin 1887 at Tell el-Amarna in Egypt, by a women digging for fertilizer forher garden.  This was not an ordinary archaeological dig, but we are still able to learn fromher discovery.

I just want to give (2) thumbs up to Archaeology, I can consider myself intelligent now that I know what I have learned in this class.

[Sekhmet]

Hello to everyone! I'm new here...

I am debating with someone who makes the following claims regarding biblical archaeology:

The majority of biblical archaeological finds took place in the 19th century and fell off sharply during the 20th century because the scientific method and standards of archaeology were not applied to the 19th century finds. They have been applied to the 20th century finds, hence the drop off. He also claims that non-archaeologists and fortune hunters looking for profit made most of these finds. He also cites provenance as a major issue.

Is what he claims true? How can I rebut this?

Hi batman, the truth is yes your friend is right for the most part and I would agree with him.  It will shut him up and listen to the more important truth. 

In what he claims is the drop off of the 20th century is also true because scientific methodology was growing.  Being applied and a learning period.  The evidence from this century begins the real history of both Biblical history and archaeology.

It lead to the vast new findings almost daily now in Egypt, because it is not yet a war zone.

I would ask him so...what about the work since the 20th century.

Very few archaeologist and such want to admit to such crimes and poor workmanship in their field.  Myself, I got over them and moved on to my day.  I don't worship my school teachers or ancestors, I thank them, learn from them but I worship God.  Good luck with your friend.

[sherry79]

hi everyone!
i am new to this site, yet i am glad that i am on the right side. I really love archeology, specially when we talk about the holy bible...

be here more often...