Biblical archaeology is a branch of archaeology that focuses on the excavation and examination of sites and artifacts associated with the Bible. Some prefer to refer to this field as “Syro-Palestinian archaeology” or “Near-Eastern archaeology,” emphasizing the goal of uncovering information about all ancient societies, not just those that contributed to the Bible and the development of Christianity. These terms also distinguish archaeology from archaeological investigations aimed at reconciling the Bible with archaeological evidence; a Biblical archaeologist can investigate sites with an open mind or look for evidence that supports the Bible.
Jericho, Galilee, and Jerusalem, to name a few, have all been discovered and excavated after being mentioned in the Bible. Some Biblical sites are still occupied and used, as evidenced by these examples, with excavations focusing on uncovering the history beneath human settlements. Archaeologists may investigate sites before they are developed, or they may take advantage of building demolition to look for information in the soil beneath them. Biblical archaeology faces a challenge in the ongoing occupation of biblical sites, as it is not always possible to secure and control historically significant sites.
Biblical archaeologists like to look at artifacts like the Dead Sea Scrolls that are related to civilizations that existed during the time of events described in the Bible, in addition to looking at sites to learn more about them and the people who lived there. The Bible is a rich and complex document, and many sections of it merit further investigation from a historical standpoint, particularly when historical sites coincide with biblical discussions to demonstrate that the events and people described in its pages had real-world counterparts.
This field has generated some debate. Biblical archaeologists are sometimes accused of interpreting the Bible too literally or of focusing on finding evidence that confirms or supports their beliefs rather than remaining skeptical. People can approach Biblical archaeology from a variety of perspectives, just as they can in other fields of archaeology, and their approach will often temper the results they achieve.
People interested in the history of early Middle Eastern civilizations may enjoy studying Biblical archaeology because there is a wealth of material available, and documents such as the Bible and Torah that have been passed down through the generations can be a valuable resource. Many Christians and Jews are interested in this field for obvious reasons, and Biblical archaeology also includes the discovery of sacred sites to Islam and many older Middle Eastern religions, reflecting the long history of human settlement in this part of the world.