BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

The Expanding World of Biblical Archaeology

How fresh perspectives are reshaping the past

Since the first issue of Biblical Archaeology Review was published 50 years ago, the landscape of biblical archaeology—both literal and figurative—has expanded in remarkable ways. From the ever-broadening conception of “biblical lands” to increasingly expansive ideas about who participates in the archaeological process, Erin Darby’s article “Forging Ahead: Biblical Archaeology’s Expanding Frontier,” which appears in the Fall 2025 issue of BAR, explores how such developments help to foster a dynamic and sustainable future for the field.

Darby approaches the topic by isolating four discrete areas of focus. In her first section, entitled “Studying the Past,” she discusses how archaeological work has changed dramatically over the past five decades, with new theories and methodologies that enable archaeologists to perform highly refined analysis of many aspects of daily life in antiquity. By exploring topics such as foodways and textile production, we are able to generate a clearer understanding of how everyday people are portrayed in the biblical text.

In addition to an increased focus inward on daily life in antiquity, Darby also highlights how biblical archaeology has expanded outward geographically, expanding the boundaries of the biblical lands beyond the region of ancient Israel and Judah and deep into neighboring territories. Darby notes that while it is still common to learn about the Levant, Mesopotamia, Cyprus, Egypt, and the Mediterranean, archaeologists are rapidly expanding their horizons into regions like the Caucasus, the Arabian Peninsula, and East Africa.

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The first section concludes by recognizing that archaeologists now engage in close scrutiny of how archaeology is conducted, including the excavation, preservation, curation, and display of the past for consumption by the public. Darby observes that a clear understanding of the social role of archaeological parks and museums in modern communities facilitates greater intentionality in the ways that such finds impact the people around them. Referring to this role as a type of “soft diplomacy,” she highlights its political and ideological contributions toward both conflict and compromise in the modern setting; these are crucial matters to be weighed carefully by those seeking to participate in the archaeology of biblical lands.

In her second section, entitled “Preserving the Past,” Darby focuses primarily on the provenience of ancient artifacts. Objects that appear on the private antiquities market or that are looted in war, she explains, lose their crucial connection to the precise archaeological context in which they were discovered—a context that can yield extensive information about the item itself, its purpose and use, the area in which it was found, and much more.

Over the past several decades, the archaeological community has worked tirelessly to address the challenges posed by the looting of antiquities, with the result that some consensus has been reached regarding how to handle unprovenienced artifacts: journals and scholarly meetings often require authors and presenters to provide a detailed history of ownership of any unprovenienced materials, and may opt not to publish on certain artifacts. In addition, archaeologists increasingly work hand-in-hand with local communities and stakeholders to discourage looting and promote the careful preservation of excavated remains.

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Darby’s third section, “Communicating the Past,” addresses the process of sharing archaeological discoveries with the public. Whereas such discoveries have long been published in magazines, newspapers, and popular memoirs, the explosion of media availability in modernity has led to an abundance of new opportunities for archaeologists to share their work with a wider audience. As a result, archaeology has captured the imagination in a variety of new ways, including film, television, podcasts, dedicated websites, and social media. Moreover, developments like open-access publishing and the use of highly sophisticated computer databases have empowered archaeologists to work collaboratively with other experts around the world.

The fourth section of Darby’s article is titled “Who Studies the Past.” Here, she highlights the expansion of the field of biblical archaeology to include a diverse array of participants and perspectives. For instance, although a few women (such as Kathleen Kenyon) have attained prominence in the archaeological community in the past, Darby highlights how women now are increasingly taking on leadership roles and producing high-quality scholarship. Likewise, she notes important contributors such as the Society of Black Archaeologists, who work to improve access to careers in archaeology, as well as the emergence of younger voices such as Erika Brown, who hosts Just So You Know, a podcast focusing on the archaeology of the biblical world.

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As the boundaries of biblical archaeology continue to expand, participants in the field are increasingly able to develop partnerships not only with multinational excavation and research teams, but also with people and institutions already on the ground in the regions of interest, including in-country researchers and government antiquities authorities. These partnerships create employment opportunities, educate the public, and forge bonds with local communities.

For more on the expanding world of biblical archaeology, read Erin Darby’s article “Forging Ahead: Biblical Archaeology’s Expanding Frontier,” published in the Fall 2025 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.

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Subscribers: Read the full article, “Forging Ahead: Biblical Archaeology’s Expanding Frontier,” by Erin Darby, in the Fall 2025 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.

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