Where the Land of the Bible Meets Modern Archaeology

22 December 2024

The Master's program in Ancient Israel Studies at Tel Aviv University allows international students to learn from renowned faculty, join cutting-edge research projects, and get hands-on excavation experience in preparation for diverse careers in the field.

As Prof. Omer Sergi, the head of the MA program, explains, the biggest draw of the program comes from Israel’s reputation as a prominent leader in archaeology. Researchers from all over the world come to experience archaeology in Israel because of what Israel can offer.

“Regardless of what kind of archaeology you study—prehistoric archaeology, Greek and Roman archaeology, or biblical archaeology—Israel has it all.”—Prof Sergi

Let’s take a closer look at what makes TAU’s Ancient Israel Studies MA truly stand out.

Cradle of Western Civilization

“For Western civilization, the role of the Middle East, including Israel and Egypt, is unique—the beginnings of Western culture can be traced back to this region. Unlike Italy or Greece, Israel has experienced a million years of continuous habitation. There are very few places in the entire world comparable to Israel in this regard,” says Segri.

Professor Omer Segri, the head of the Ancient Israel Studies MA program

He adds that “Israel is also the place where the Bible was written, both the Old and New Testaments–the land of Israel serves as the backdrop for most biblical stories.” This lends a special attraction to Israeli archaeology since biblical archaeology and archaeology of the New Testament are crucial for understanding monotheism, which is the core element of Western culture.

“Even if a person is completely secular and atheist, our worldview is still shaped by monotheistic ideals.”—Prof. Segri

For Jonathan Steilmann, the fact that Israel is the “land of the Bible” was instrumental in his decision to choose TAU’s Ancient Israel MA. He also greatly appreciated the opportunity to study across different eras—Egyptian, Roman, Hellenistic periods, and more.

“That variety was really appealing to me, especially coming from Germany, where we mostly focus on the Roman period. Studying in Israel offered a much broader historical context.”—Jonathan Steilmann, alumnus of MA in Ancient Israel Studies

Expertise in Archaeology and Antiquities Management

Notably, scholars from the entire Western world, including Germany, come to Israel to learn from the Israeli Antiquities Authority how to manage a state organization responsible for regulating antiquities, whether in the ground or in museums—Israel was the first to create such an independent body.

The Institute of Archaeology and the Department of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University are among the leading institutions in the world and some of the greatest minds in the field are from Tel Aviv University.

Digging into History: Prestigious Excavation Projects

Tel Aviv University archaeologists excavate many important historical sites such as Jerusalem and Masada. Current flagship projects include the biblical site of Tel Azekah and Qesem Cave, among many others.

The Qesem site is particularly valuable because it contains unique evidence regarding the behavior and evolutions of early humans, including the development of the Homo sapiens

Graduate students work alongside their professors, learning how to professionally manage and conduct scientific excavations and applying their theoretical knowledge in the field.

Getting hands dirty at the archaeological dig

Minji Jin, MA alum from South Korea who participated in the Tel Azekah excavation, recalls how important for her research it was:

“Being physically there for a month helped me locate the findings and visually map the site.”—Minji Jin, graduate of MA in Ancient Israel Studies

Steilmann, who did a lot of fieldwork during his studies, not only as part of the program but also during vacation breaks, recalls: “It was amazing to dive into practical work right away.”

“On my very first day, I found a pottery shard and was so excited. It wasn’t a particularly notable find, but I still remember posting it on Instagram.”—Jonathan Steilmann

Decoding the Past with Modern Science

In the past twenty years, TAU’s Institute of Archaeology has been leading the way in integrating archaeology with other sciences, such as biology, physics, chemistry, geology, and even mathematics, opening a whole new scope of research avenues.

Prof. Daphna Langgut, the head of the Archaeobotanical and Reconstruction of Ancient Environment Lab, has already won two international prizes for her groundbreaking studies in archaeobotany and archaeoparasitology.

Prof Langgut has developed systems to catch ancient pollen and reconstruct ancient gardens, which helped her reconstruct ancient climates and environments and identify climatic crises in the past.

Jin, who is now doing her PhD research under Prof Langgut’s supervision, comments that one of the approaches to understanding the Late Bronze Age collapse (and the onset of the Iron Age) suggests that the regional drought affected agricultural yields, which in turn induced political crisis and instability.

Pottery shards found during excavations

Other interdisciplinary projects at TAU’s Institute of Archaeology labs include studying ancient DNA, determining Earth’s magnetic field from archaeological finds, analyzing skeletal remains to understand health conditions and ancient diseases, or investigating composition of ancient pottery and also ancient metalworking techniques.

“We can look today at a piece of pottery and say where it was made, what travel it did, and what was in it, which helps reconstruct contact and trade routes.”—Prof. Segri

Prof. Segri holding a small Canaanite vessel that helped discover an entire administrative system in the Kingdom of Israel

Modern archaeology even allows researchers to read ancient molecules: “We found that in a military fortress of the house of David in Arad, Jehovah's Priests were smoking hash while doing rituals.”

Archaeology Careers Begin at TAU

Several career pathways are open to the program graduates, with many choosing to stay in academia since archaeology exists as an academic discipline in numerous colleges and universities around the world.

MA students on one of the field trips to an ancient site in Israel

As Steilmann notes, Ancient Israel MA has definitely shaped his future. He is now planning to pursue a PhD in archaeology, with a focus on the Jezreel Valley, combining biblical texts and archaeological findings to deepen the understanding of the region’s history.

“The journey has been incredible, and I look forward to what lies ahead in archaeology.”—Steilmann

Jin is also building an academic career—her interests lie in palynology [study of ancient pollen] and the ancient environment in prehistoric periods. For her PhD thesis, she is working on reconstructing the climate and environment conditions of two important Early–Middle Paleolithic sites.

Classifying pottery finds during fieldwork

Since the Ancient Israel MA involves a lot of lab work and active participation in research projects, graduates are well-equipped to apply for PhD tracks in prestigious universities outside of Israel. One of Prof Segri’s students, for example, is now working on his PhD at UC Berkeley after successfully completing his MA at TAU and publishing several articles in reputable peer-reviewed journals, including the American Journal of Archaeology.

Another career track is to join state archaeology authorities. Many countries now have bodies like the IAA, the Israel Antiquities Authority, which provide plenty of job opportunities.

Archaeological finds from one of the excavation projects

Program graduates also often go on to work in archaeological museums as curators, researchers or storers. Several alumni curate exhibits at the Israel Museum, and one is now employed by the British Museum in London.

Finally, there are private companies which provide archaeological services where graduates can find employment.

Tel Aviv: A City Like No Other

What gives a special attraction to TAU’s Ancient Israel program is the incredible student experience in a city like Tel Aviv.

“I never met a student who came from Germany, France, America, Canada, Hong Kong, India, and didn't fall in love in Tel Aviv.”—Prof. Omer Segri

Enjoying the beach

“International students want to stay in Tel Aviv because it's young, it's a beach city, and because there's a feeling of freedom in Tel Aviv, in a way which is very Israeli,” adds Segri.

So, Why Archaeology?

Archaeology, essentially, is a study of human beings, human behavior, and human society, which makes it a very attractive field of study for many students.

For Steilmann, archaeology has completely changed his life and his perspective on history. He particularly loves the blend of theoretical and physical aspects: “You spend time thinking and researching, but you’re also out there physically uncovering history.”

Exploring the land of Israel

“It’s not just about treasure hunting (although, of course, finding things is thrilling). It’s about telling stories that might otherwise be lost.”—Steilmann

And telling stories is crucial, especially in today’s world. Archaeology helps verify historical narratives and ensures a balanced perspective. It allows us to look at history beyond the texts, which often only tell the stories of the powerful or elite.