Whose Holy Land?: Archaeology Meets Geopolitics in Today's Middle East

Biblical Archaeology is more than just an obscure field for academics. It's a modern mine field, with implications that may well determine the course of future events for the Middle East and the entire world. Ancient artifacts are more than just museum pieces--they're the storytellers, witnesses to the truth of who lived in this ancient land and when. Archaeology is ultimately about history, and history is the raison d'être for Jews living in this land at all. Whose Holy Land? gathers archaeological evidence for the Jewish presence in Jerusalem and environs extending back into the Bronze Age during the twentieth century B.C.E. The Canaanites have of course disappeared, as has the entire lineage of the ancient Romans and Byzantines. There are no Egyptians (only Arab tribes who conquered the land of the pharaohs), no Babylonians, no Assyrians, no Edomites, Hittites or Amalekites; and the list goes on. Of all ancient peoples, only the Jews have survived. Yet, it is precisely the Jews who are said to be squatters on Arab land. History tells us that those who identify as modern "Palestinians" are in fact the remnants of sundry Arab tribes living under the Ottoman Turks, who lost the land to the British in 1917. The Ottomans took it from the Mamluks, who took it from the Ayyubids, who took it from the Crusaders, who took it from the Seljuks, who took it from the Fatimids, who took it from the Abbasids, who took it from the Byzantines and Romans, who took it from the Jews. This is exactly what the archaeological record also reveals. It's time to take a fresh look at the modern implications of the science of archaeology.

About the Author :
Kenneth Hanson, Coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Program in Judaic Studies at the University of Central Florida, has for many years taught the history, literature and cultural legacy of the Jewish people, from antiquity through the rise of the modern State of Israel. Having lived in Jerusalem and northern Galilee, he earned a master's degree in international/intercultural communication, and went on to earn a doctorate in Hebrew language and literature from the University of Texas at Austin. His multiple books and appearances on syndicated radio and national television (including the History Channel, the Travel Channel and the Gaia network) have brought his unique insights to millions.

Review :
For supporters of both archaeology and Israel this volume is a must-read. Here, finally, is a reasoned, documented defense of the historical Jewish presence in Jerusalem. It is based upon the detailed history of decades of archeological work and Arab attempts to discredit and destroy its findings. Polemical in nature, Whose Holy Land?: Archaeology Meets Geopolitics in Today's Middle East establishes the case for the Jewish claim to both Jerusalem and the land of Israel. --Rabbi Joel R. Schwartzman, Dillon, Colorado / Charlottesville, Virginia Kenneth Hanson's laudable study on Land of Israel archaeology and conflicting Palestinian claims to "Whose Holy Land?" proposes a setting marked by the collaboration of the biblical Israelite religion and peoplehood and contemporary Palestinian geopolitical and historical claims. An informative investigative methodology and exciting writing style permeate exacting episodes of Israeli archaeology then and now. In sum, this is a testament to the vitality of Israelite archaeology which is sound in scholarship and particularly appealing to general readers. --Zev Garber, Los Angeles Valley College, Valley Glen, CA. Professor Hanson has a unique gift for making history and archaeology accessible and meaningful. In this book, he combines his deep knowledge of Israel and its history with a realistic approach to today's political challenges. Never one to mince words, Professor Hanson describes the "facts on the ground" as he sees them, with the benefit of a historical perspective that helps the reader make sense of the current situation. --Rabbi Sanford Olshansky, Adjunct Professor, University of Central Florida