John Garstang

John Garstang (1876-1956) was a prominent British archaeologist known for his influential work at Jericho and his contributions to the study of the Bronze-Iron transition in the Near East. His excavation efforts and interpretations have played a pivotal role in shaping discussions around biblical archaeology, particularly concerning the conquest chronology of the ancient city of Jericho.

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Academic Career and Education

John Garstang was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, where he developed a keen interest in archaeology and ancient history. He went on to serve as the first Director of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem and later as the Director of Antiquities for the Palestine Mandate. These positions allowed him to exert significant influence on the development of archaeological practices in the region during the early 20th century.

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Major Works and Contributions

Garstang is best known for his excavation of Jericho at Tell es-Sultan, which he conducted from 1930 to 1936. He identified a destruction layer that he attributed to the biblical account of Joshua's conquest, dating it to around 1400 BC. This date aligns with the early Exodus chronology (1446 BC) as derived from biblical texts such as 1 Kings 6:1. Garstang reported findings of collapsed mudbrick walls, evidence of burning, and stored grain, which he argued were consistent with a brief siege as described in the Book of Joshua.

In addition to Jericho, Garstang conducted excavations at Meros in the Hazor region, Sakce Gozu in Turkey, and various sites across Transjordan. His work in these areas contributed significantly to the understanding of ancient Near Eastern cultures and the Bronze Age-Iron Age transition.

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Organizational Affiliations and Public Engagement

As the Director of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem, Garstang was instrumental in establishing a framework for archaeological research in the region, which continued to influence both Israeli and Jordanian practices after the end of the British Mandate. He was also active in public engagement, contributing to the broader dissemination of archaeological findings through lectures and published reports.

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Impact on Biblical Studies

Garstang's identification of the destruction layer at Jericho and his proposed dating had a significant impact on biblical archaeology, particularly among scholars who support the historical reliability of the biblical narrative. His work provided archaeological support for an early date for the Exodus and the conquest of Canaan as described in the Old Testament.

His findings have been influential within evangelical circles, where they are often cited as evidence for the historical accuracy of the Scriptures. However, his conclusions have been subject to ongoing scholarly debate.

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Critique and Reception

Garstang's conclusions regarding the dating of Jericho's destruction have been both supported and contested. Kathleen Kenyon's subsequent excavations at Jericho from 1952 to 1958 challenged Garstang's dating, suggesting the destruction layer he identified was from around 1550 BC, at the end of the Middle Bronze Age, and argued there was no Late Bronze Age city wall for Joshua to have conquered. This view has been prominent in mainstream archaeological circles.

However, Bryant Wood reanalyzed the ceramic and stratigraphic evidence and argued in favor of Garstang's general dating, suggesting that Garstang's conclusions about the timing of Jericho's destruction were closer to the biblical account than Kenyon had proposed. This has reignited debates within biblical archaeology, with Garstang's work continuing to be valued among those who support the early Exodus date.

Garstang's methodological approaches have been critiqued for lacking the precision of later archaeological techniques, yet his pioneering work remains a cornerstone in the ongoing discussion of the historical veracity of the biblical narratives.

See also: Jericho, Exodus

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