ANTH329T

Cross-listing with ISRL329T. Archaeology is not just the study of the past. It is a story of people long forgotten. Over the last 150 years, archaeology in Israel has gone from being a quest to determine the historical accuracy of the Bible to a mission to establish Israel s national identity and in the process, justify West Bank settlements, and support a multi-million-dollar industry in religious tourism. Archaeological discoveries in Israel make international news, but, at home, they are often celebrated as the ultimate proof of primacy in the land. Close attention to archaeological discoveries in light of present-day politics and culture provides an opportunity to think deeply about contemporary Israeli politics, identity, and society.