CENTENARY SCHWEICH LECTURE ON BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeology and the Bible - A Broken Link?

Professor Graham Davies FBA, Professor of Old Testament Studies, Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge

Tuesday 4 November 2008

This lecture celebrates the centenary of the first series of Schweich Lectures, given by Professor S R Driver in 1908. For much of the past century popular understanding of the relationship between archaeology and the Bible was dominated by 'Biblical Archaeology' which favoured the historical accuracy of the Bible. The lecture will argue that this has been by no means the only or even the primary concern of study of this relationship. In recent years such integrative study has regrettably become less widespread, for reasons arising from developments in both archaeology and biblical studies, which the lecture will review and assess. The lecture will conclude with some proposals for a renewal of collaboration between biblical scholars and archaeologists, which will take account of a considered assessment of the tasks of their respective disciplines.

Professor Graham Davies was elected a Fellow of the Academy in 2003. His research interests include the semantics of ancient Hebrew, Interpretation of the Book of Exodus, Hebrew and other inscriptions and Biblical theology.

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