The Stone Age of Palestine

Abstract

The archaeology of Palestine, though far less spectacular than that of its neighbours, Egypt and Iraq, can always rely on a certain public outside the circle of specialists. Even the most uninspiring potsherds, if they are dug up in Jericho or Samaria, are invested with a certain glamour by their association with Joshua or Ahab, and the hope of unearthing the Ark of the Covenant or the tomb of David has inspired more than one forlorn venture. Until recent years, however, the Stone Age of Palestine, which receives no adventitious help from association with the Bible, has suffered from neglect. It is true that a considerable amount of surface material was collected, and the names of Pére Germer-Durand, Pére Vincent, Pére Mallon and Dr Paul Karge stand out as pioneers of prehistoric studies in this region, but until 1925 no systematic excavation had taken place. Ten years ago an article on the prehistory of Palestine would have been a very brief affair; today it is difficult to compress into a limited space all there is to say, so rich has this small country proved in the short time that excavation has been carried out.