Archaeologies of the Middle East provides an innovative introduction to the archaeology of this fascinating region and a window on both its past and present.
- Written by some of the top archaeologists of the Middle East: scholars from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of interests and intellectual approaches
- Coverage spans 100,000 years: from the Paleolithic to Hellenistic times
- Explores the connections between modern-day politics and the social context of archaeological practice and various underutilized approaches to archaeological interpretation
- Designed for student use
Table of Contents:
List of Figures. List of Tables.
List of Contributors.
Series Editors' Preface.
Acknowledgments.
1. Introduction: Susan Pollock and Reinhard Bernbeck (Binghamton University, SUNY; Binghamton University, SUNY).
2. A Cultural-Historical Framework: Reinhard Bernbeck and Susan Pollock.
Part I: Producing and Disseminating Knowledge About the Ancient Near East: Reinhard Bernbeck and Susan Pollock.
3. Who Has Not Eaten Cherries with the Devil? Archaeology under Challenge: Caroline Steele (Independent Scholar).
4. Archaeology and Nationalism in the Holy Land: Adel Yahya (Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange).
5. Archaeology Goes to War at the Newstand: Susan Pollock.
6. The Past as Fact and Fiction: From Historical Novels to Novel Histories: Reinhard Bernbeck.
Part II: Reassessing Evolutionary “Firsts”: Reinhard Bernbeck and Susan Pollock.
7. Bleeding or Breeding: Neandertals vs. Early Modern Humans in the Middle Paleolithic Levant : John Shea (Stony Brook University, SUNY).
8. Lumps of Clay and Pieces of Stone: Ambiguity, Bodies, and Identity as Portrayed in Neolithic Figurines: Ian Kuijt and Meredith Chesson (University of Notre Dame; University of Notre Dame).
9. The State: The Process of State Formation as Seen from Mesopotamia: Jean-Daniel Forest (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris).
10. Archaeology, Bible, and the History of the Levant in the Iron Age: Israel Finkelstein (Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University).
11. Imperialism: Mario Liverani (University of Rome).
Part III: Constructing Arguments, Understanding Perceptions: Reinhard Bernbeck and Susan Pollock.
12. Ethnoarchaeology, Analogy, and Ancient Society: Marc Verhoeven (University Museum, University of Tokyo).
13. The Ancient Sumerians in the Tides of Time: Petr Charvát (Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and Charles University, Prague).
14. Reliquaries on the Landscape: Mounds as Matrices of Human Cognition: Sharon Steadman (SUNY Cortland).
15. Archaeology and Texts in the Ancient Near East: Paul Zimansky (Boston University).
16. Representations, Reality, and Ideology: Jennifer Ross (Hood College).
Index
