Traditions of archeological research in the near east

Abstract

Interest in the archeology of the Near East developed as European travelers, from the sixteenth century onwards, took an active interest in the visible antiquities of the region and especially in the material background to the Bible. Methods of research improved through the 19th century and two contrasting traditions emerged; the one focused on epigraphy, and the other on architecture, pottery and small finds. The establishment of the Mandate governments in Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Transjordan after 1918 provided more favorable conditions for sustained foreign research, and prehistory was increasingly emphasized. During this period, nationals of the various Near Eastern countries were trained in research methods and with political independence the value, for political, religious, aesthetic and economic purposes, of their archeological herritage has become an integral part of the indigenous cultural perception.

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