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DI4752 Biblical Studies Special Topic: The Bible and Archaeology

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Tues, Thurs

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr D G Snoek

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr D Snoek

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The relationship between the Bible and archaeological research is fraught with difficulties. Archaeology is often presented in the media or in scholarship as confirming or refuting the Bible as history. In this module, students will learn to move beyond these polarizing approaches and developed a more nuanced understanding of what archaeological research can offer to readings of the Bible鈥檚 ancient texts. For example, who were the Philistines, and why are they portrayed so negatively in the Bible? We will learn about the basics of archaeological research and survey major sites in the southern Levant (ancient Israel and Judah). We will consider the 鈥渕aterial turn鈥� 鈥� the study of places, spaces, and bodies 鈥� and how it helps us understand religion in ancient Israel and Judah.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 70% Exam = 30%

Re-assessment

Exam = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 3-hr seminar (x11 weeks)

Intended learning outcomes

  • Students will be able to describe the basic methods of archaeology and material studies of religion (for instance, stratigraphy, ceramic analysis, iconography, archaeobotany and archaeozoology) and the kinds of information that they provide.
  • Students will be able to identify some major archaeological sites in the Levant and key finds from those sites.
  • Students will have a rudimentary grasp of the ethical issues that arise in working with archaeological remains (repatriating finds, provenance and the antiquities market, and treatment of human remains).
  • Students will be able to critically assess how archaeological finds have been related to biblical texts.
  • Students will be able to make well-informed arguments, both oral and written, about how material studies relate to reading the Bible, both the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament and the New Testament.