Digging through History: Archaeology and Religion from Atlantis to the Holocaust

Digging through History follows rabbi and archaeologist Richard Freund's journey through some of the most fascinating archaeological sites of human history—including the mysterious Atlantis, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the long-buried Holocaust camp Sobibor. Each chapter takes readers through a different archaeological site, showing what we can learn about past religious life and religious faith through the artifacts found there, as well as what has given each site such strong "staying power" over time. Richard Freund and the research in Digging through History are featured in the National Geographic documentary Atlantis Rising, which premieres on National Geographic on Sunday, January 29, at 9/8 central. The documentary follows Oscar-winning executive producer James Cameron and Emmy-winning filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici as they investigate the myths and realities of Atlantis. Digging through History is the only book that details Freund’s groundbreaking research on Atlantis that is featured in the film. A free app, “Archaeology Quest: Atlantis” is also available for iPhone and Android users who want to explore Freund’s newest information on Atlantis.

Table of Contents:
A Short Chronology Chapter 1 Divine Footprints: Digging through History Chapter 2 Mysteries of Religion and Archaeology in the Search for Atlantis and Tarshish Chapter 3 The Dead Sea Scrolls: One Archaeological Discovery that Changed How We Understand the History of the Ancient and Modern Worlds Chapter 4 Mysteries of Religion and Archaeology in Medieval Spain Chapter 5 Mysteries of Religion and Archaeology in the “Hidden Holocaust” Acknowledgements Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Richard A. Freund is Maurice Greenberg Professor of Jewish History and director of the Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford. An archaeologist and ordained rabbi, he has been featured on National Geographic, NOVA, CNN, and the History and Discovery Channels. He is the author of several books, including Digging through the Bible, and he lives in Hartford, CT.

Review :
Elegantly written and a fascinating account of how the archaeologist Richard Freund encounters the evidence placed before him. This account is directed to the layman; there is no fussy academic speak; it is clear and to the point. Richard Freund is one of our most sought after lecturers. Any student of history who is able to attend his lectures is in for an exhilarating experience. This is the kind of book that only a few people could write. Freund’s wealth of global experiences, his multidisciplinary approach and use of the latest technologies open a fascinating window to the distant past. Richard Freund takes readers on fascinating trek through a vast archaeological landscape that spans three continents and details over two decades of his own research and active participation in excavations. From the lost cites of Atlantis and Tarshish to the dusty caves of Qumran to the horrors of the Sobibor death camp, Freund connects history, material remains, and texts as he expertly unravels some of the most vexing questions associated with these and other sites. Engaging, informative, and written in a style that will appeal to both lay readers and scholars alike, Digging through History is a rare gem. Digging Through History: Archaeology and Religion from Atlantis to the Holocaust is a fascinating glimpse into how archaeologists collect data—not only from a variety of sites, but across an expansive temporal range. Richard Freund imaginatively and intelligently explores how data transform to story, and the crucial roles that archaeology and the scientific method play in that process. For scholars and the general public alike, a great deal of what is known—or what we think we know—concerning persons and events from antiquity to the mid-twentieth century derives from a complex intermingling of material culture and history. Digging through History offers an extraordinarily illuminating series of studies on the relationship between archaeology and history from ancient times to the present day. Freund's approach, which is both deeply personal and scholarly, makes it one of the most accessible books, ever, bridging disparate academic disciplines and a vast chronological sweep. While respectful of religious beliefs and traditions, it rigorously challenges a number of seminal myths concerning monumental historical remains and watershed events. Given the breathtaking range of Freund's investigations on the historical mediation of archaeology—from to ocean floor, to arid caves holding the Dead Sea scrolls, to Nazi killing grounds in Poland—readers will be tremendously enriched through the fascinating insights of Digging through History.