Chair in Biblical Archæology: an Appeal

Abstract

AN appeal for funds to endow a chair in biblical archaeology in connexion with the Institute of Archaeology of the University of London, has been issued over the signatures of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Frederic Kenyon, Sir George Hill and Sir Charles Peers, should meet with a ready and liberal response, especially as the generous gift by Sir Charles Marston of £1,000 has already reduced substantially the amount which it is considered necessary to provide. Palestine demands of the field worker a widely extended and detailed knowledge of the general cultural and historical background, owing to its geographical position and its political, economic, and cultural relations with contemporary peoples. The institution of a chair in biblical archaeology, by making provision for that preliminary training in acquisition and manipulation of the historical and cultural facts of the Ancient World, should go far towards conserving the time and energy of senior members of an expedition, which must be devoted to the training and supervision of the younger workers in the field. Not only does the installation of Sir Flinders Petrie's Palestinian collections at the Institute of Archaeology make this an opportune moment to inaugurate such a chair, but also the results which have been achieved by recent excavation in Palestine, as for example at Lachish, Jericho and Gaza, as well as indications of the bearing of Palestinian material on the excavations now being carried out in Syria, all point in the direction of the imminent possibility of important additions to knowledge. This should be an additional stimulus to the British public, who have always looked kindly upon research in Palestine. Contributions may be sent to Mr. E. S. M. Perowne, 7 Great James Street, Bedford Row, W.C.I, or direct to the Westminster Bank, Marylebone Branch, 1 Stratford Place, Oxford Street, W.I, marked “Institute of Archaeology”.