The Archaeological encyclopedia of the Holy Land /

The spate of recent archaeological activity and research in lands sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (some made necessary by construction projects, some by the present intense interest in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine) requires a revised edition of volumes like this every decade or so. This expanded edition covers people, places, and objects from a region rich in archaeological evidence since the Chalcolithic period and in historical and literary evidence since the Bronze Age. The time period covered ranges from the Neolithic walled city of Jericho to Christian Jerusalem. Topics are also included--e.g., magic, money, mourning, warfare, witchcraft, and writing. Source material includes not only the Bible but ancient clay tablets and papyrus records (e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls). More than 800 entries and almost 300 illustrations provide a thorough background to a region that was home to scores of different peoples alternately living among and fighting each other. A necessary addition to every home and library in all countries, so all may learn the rich heritage of the three major religions that held this area sacred. L. J. Roccos CUNY College of Staten Island

of Biblical Archaeology (Hendrickson, 2000), this is instead a complete listing of archaeological sites in the Holy Land (Israel, Palestine, and Jordan). The text consists of 800 entries, running a few paragraphs to two or three pages in length and arranged alphabetically by the name of the site or subject (e.g., "Ivory" or "Shells"). Each entry covers the history of the site, the materials found there, and the dates (e.g., Middle Bronze IIB). The 124 contributors are international, though mostly Israeli, but none of the entries are signed; nor do they have bibliographies. The text boasts the latest scholarship, but its arrangement is problematic. Finding the entry for Nazareth is easy enough, but would anyone but an expert in this field know to look under "Qasile" to find information on a four-acre site, currently in a northern suburb of Tel Aviv, whose ancient name is unknown? There are a few cross references to help with this problemAan asterisk identifies any word with its own separate entryAbut not many. Despite its significant limitations, this is recommended as the most up-to-date and comprehensive one-volume resource available on this subject.ADavid Bourquin, California State Univ., San Bernardino (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.