The Archaeology of Israelite Society in Iron Age II

Referring to several important introductory books written about the archaeology of the land of Israel, William Dever once stated: “However adequate these may be as introductions to the basic data, none makes any attempt to organize the data in terms of social structure. . . . This is a serious deficiency in Syro-Palestinian and biblical archaeology, when one considers that the general field of archaeology has been moving toward social archaeology for 20 years or more. (Dever, “Social Structure in Palestine in the Iron Age II Period on the Eve of Destruction,” in __The Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land__ [ed. T. E. Levy, London, 1995, p. 416]). Lack of discussion of social questions has characterized the archaeology of the land of Israel for some time, even though around the world these questions constitute an important component of archaeological research (see, for instance, the work of Renfrew, Flannery, Gibbon, Blanton, Dark, Bahn, Hodder, Trigger, and many others). __The Archaeology of Israelite Society in Iron Age II__ fills this gap and analyzes the structure of society in the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah from an archaeological viewpoint. It also applies models and theories from the field of social and cognitive archaeology, using the tools of various social-science disciplines (anthropology, sociology, economics, geography, and so on). Due to his ability to use what is probably the largest archaeological data set in the world—hundreds of planned excavations, thousands of salvage excavations, and extensive surveys, all from the small region that was ancient Israel—Avi Faust contributes not only to the study of ancient Israelite society but to the most fundamental questions about ancient societies. These questions include the identification of socioeconomic stratification in the archaeological record, the study of family and community organization, the significance of pottery, small finds and architecture as indicators of wealth, and more. This groundbreaking monograph is one of the first attempts at a large-scale study of Israelite society based primarily on the archaeological evidence. The following acknowledgments were inadvertently omitted from the front matter of the volume: Amihai Mazar: figure 31 Amnon Ben-Tor: figures 40, 41 Israel Antiquities Authority: figures 21, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30., 32, 33, 36, and Photo 5 Israel Exploration Society: figures 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 27, 42 Israel Finkelstein: figure 28 Izhak Beit Arieh: figures 34, 35 Shimon Dar: figures 22, 23 The Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University: figures 7, 8 The Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University: figures 40, 41 Zeev Herzog: figures 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20

Referring to several important introductory books written about the archaeology of the land of Israel, William Dever once stated: “However adequate these may be as introductions to the basic data, none makes any attempt to organize the data in terms of social structure.... This is a serious deficiency in Syro-Palestinian and biblical archaeology, when one considers that the general field of archaeology has been moving toward social archaeology for 20 years or more. (Dever, “Social Structure in Palestine in the Iron Age II Period on the Eve of Destruction,” in The Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land [ed. T. E. Levy, London, 1995, p. 416]).

Lack of discussion of social questions has characterized the archaeology of the land of Israel for some time, even though around the world these questions constitute an important component of archaeological research (see, for instance, the work of Renfrew, Flannery, Gibbon, Blanton, Dark, Bahn, Hodder, Trigger, and many others).

The Archaeology of Israelite Society in Iron Age II fills this gap and analyzes the structure of society in the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah from an archaeological viewpoint. It also applies models and theories from the field of social and cognitive archaeology, using the tools of various social-science disciplines (anthropology, sociology, economics, geography, and so on).

Due to his ability to use what is probably the largest archaeological data set in the world—hundreds of planned excavations, thousands of salvage excavations, and extensive surveys, all from the small region that was ancient Israel—Avi Faust contributes not only to the study of ancient Israelite society but to the most fundamental questions about ancient societies. These questions include the identification of socioeconomic stratification in the archaeological record, the study of family and community organization, the significance of pottery, small finds and architecture as indicators of wealth, and more.

This groundbreaking monograph is one of the first attempts at a large-scale study of Israelite society based primarily on the archaeological evidence.

The following acknowledgments were inadvertently omitted from the front matter of the volume:

Amihai Mazar: figure 31

Amnon Ben-Tor: figures 40, 41

Israel Antiquities Authority: figures 21, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30., 32, 33, 36, and Photo 5

Israel Exploration Society: figures 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 27, 42

Israel Finkelstein: figure 28

Izhak Beit Arieh: figures 34, 35

Shimon Dar: figures 22, 23

The Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University: figures 7, 8

The Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University: figures 40, 41

Zeev Herzog: figures 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20

Referring to several important introductory books written aboutthe archaeology of the land of Israel, William Dever once stated:"However adequate these may be as introductions to the basic data,none makes any attempt to organize the data in terms of socialstructure. . . . This is a serious deficiency in Syro-Palestinianand biblical archaeology, when one considers that the general fieldof archaeology has been moving toward social archaeology for 20years or more. (Dever, "Social Structure in Palestine in the IronAge II Period on the Eve of Destruction," in The Archaeology ofSociety in the Holy Land [ed. T. E. Levy, London, 1995, p.416]).

Lack of discussion of social questions has characterized thearchaeology of the land of Israel for some time, even though aroundthe world these questions constitute an important component ofarchaeological research (see, for instance, the work of Renfrew,Flannery, Gibbon, Blanton, Dark, Bahn, Hodder, Trigger, and manyothers).

The Archaeology of Israelite Society in Iron Age IIfills this gap and analyzes the structure of society in the ancientkingdoms of Israel and Judah from an archaeological viewpoint. Italso applies models and theories from the field of social andcognitive archaeology, using the tools of various social-sciencedisciplines (anthropology, sociology, economics, geography, and soon).

Due to his ability to use what is probably the largestarchaeological data set in the world-hundreds of plannedexcavations, thousands of salvage excavations, and extensivesurveys, all from the small region that was ancient Israel-AviFaust contributes not only to the study of ancient Israelitesociety but to the most fundamental questions about ancientsocieties. These questions include the identification ofsocioeconomic stratification in the archaeological record, thestudy of family and community organization, the significance ofpottery, small finds and architecture as indicators of wealth, andmore.

This groundbreaking monograph is one of the first attempts at alarge-scale study of Israelite society based primarily on thearchaeological evidence.

The following acknowledgments were inadvertently omitted fromthe front matter of the volume:

Amihai Mazar: figure 31

Amnon Ben-Tor: figures 40, 41

Israel Antiquities Authority: figures 21, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30.,32, 33, 36, and Photo 5

Israel Exploration Society: figures 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 27,42

Israel Finkelstein: figure 28

Izhak Beit Arieh: figures 34, 35

Shimon Dar: figures 22, 23

The Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University: figures 7,8

The Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University: figures 40,41

Zeev Herzog: figures 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20

Referring to several important introductory books written about the archaeology of the land of Israel, William Dever once stated: "However adequate these may be as introductions to the basic data, none makes any attempt to organize the data in terms of social structure. . . . This is a serious deficiency in Syro-Palestinian and biblical archaeology, when one considers that the general field of archaeology has been moving toward social archaeology for 20 years or more" ("Social Structure in Palestine in the Iron Age II Period on the Eve of Destruction," in The Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land [ed. T. E. Levy; London: Facts on File, 1995] 416). Lack of discussion of social questions has characterized the archaeology of the land of Israel for some time, even though around the world these questions constitute an important component of archaeological research. The Archaeology of Israelite Society in Iron Age II fills this gap and analyzes the structure of society in the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah from an archaeological viewpoint. It also applies models and theories from the field of social and cognitive archaeology, using the tools of various social-science disciplines (anthropology, sociology, economics, geography, and so on). Because of his ability to use what is probably the largest archaeological data set in the world--hundreds of planned excavations, thousands of salvage excavations, and extensive surveys, all from the small region that was ancient Israel--Avi Faust contributes not only to the study of ancient Israelite society but to the most fundamental questions about ancient societies. These questions include the identification of socioeconomic stratification in the archaeological record, the study of family and community organization, the significance of pottery, small finds, and architecture as indicators of wealth, and more.This groundbreaking monograph is one of the first attempt at a large-scale study of Israelite society based primarily on the archaeological evidence Chapter 1. Historical Research on Israelite Society: Summary of Previous Research Chapter 2. History of Archaeological Study on Israelite Society Chapter 3. Between Monarchy and Kinship: Urban Society Chapter 4. Community and Family: Rural Society Chapter 5. Fortified Structures in the Countryside: Between Military and Administration Chapter 6. Political Organization in the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah Chapter 7. The Four-Room House and Israelite Society Chapter 8. Pots and Peoples: Ethnic Groups in the Kingdom of Israel Chapter 9. From Hamlets to Monarchy: Israelite Society from the Settlement Period to the End of the Period of the Monarchy