Book Description

This is a history of Ancient Egyptian and Israelite sites. From the intro: "This volume marks a new departure in the course of British excavations in Egypt. Hitherto the Egyptian Research Account has been a small resource for the promotion of the work of students; and, as such, it has enabled several to obtain that footing in the subject from which they have gone on to more important positions. It has been for eleven years a basis for the new men who have been entering upon work in Egypt. Now it has been largely expanded, and with the support of most of the British authorities in archaeology and history, it has taken the more permanent position of the British School of Archaeology in Egypt. Such it has long been de facto; but de facto in Egyptian affairs is not always de jure. It is well at last to adapt the name to the facts, and place this beside the schools at Athens and Rome, as the basis for British students. My best thanks personally are due to those who have helped this change with their counsel and names: to the Earl of Cromer for so cordially accepting the position of Patron of the School; to our Treasurer, the Director of the Society of Antiquaries, for continuing his support; and to none more than to Prof. Ernest Gardner, whose long experience at the British School at Athens adds weight to his opinions. The heavy work of the organizing and correspondence, which was undertaken by my wife, has been much lightened by the kind co-operation of Dr. J. H. Walker, to whom we owe many thanks. This expansion of public interest has enabled me to continue my excavations in Egypt, and the direction of students, on a larger scale than in the past two years. The limitations of the Exploration Fund, with which I had worked, led to that basis being withdrawn, greatly to my regret; such a break was entirely contrary to my wishes. Yet, when changes thus came about, it seemed fitting that a broader width of interests should be connected with the present position of Egyptology in England, which has developed so much in the last quarter of a century."