Digging through History: Archaeology and Religion from Atlantis to the Holocaust

(Paperback)

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Digging through History follows rabbi and archaeologist Richard Freund's journey through some of the most fascinating archaeological sites of human historyincluding the mysterious Atlantis, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the long-buried Holocaust camp Sobibor. Each chapter takes readers through a different archaeological site, showing what we can learn about past religious life and religious faith through the artifacts found there, as well as what has given each site such strong "staying power" over time. Richard Freund and the research in Digging through History are featured in the National Geographic documentary Atlantis Rising, which premieres on National Geographic on Sunday, January 29, at 9/8 central. The documentary follows Oscar-winning executive producer James Cameron and Emmy-winning filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici as they investigate the myths and realities of Atlantis. Digging through History is the only book that details Freunds groundbreaking research on Atlantis that is featured in the film. A free app, Archaeology Quest: Atlantis is also available for iPhone and Android users who want to explore Freunds newest information on Atlantis.

Reviews

Elegantly written and a fascinating account of how the archaeologist Richard Freund encounters the evidence placed before him. This account is directed to the layman; there is no fussy academic speak; it is clear and to the point. Richard Freund is one of our most sought after lecturers. Any student of history whois able to attend his lecturesis in for an exhilarating experience. -- Robin O'Neil, University College London
This is the kind of book that only a few people could write. Freunds wealth of global experiences, his multidisciplinary approach and use of the latest technologies open afascinating window to the distant past. -- Fred Strickert, professor emeritus, Wartburg College; pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Old City Jerusalem
Richard Freund takes readers on fascinating trek through a vast archaeological landscape that spans three continents and details over two decades of his own research and active participation in excavations.From the lost cites of Atlantis and Tarshish to the dusty caves of Qumran to the horrors of the Sobibor death camp, Freund connects history, material remains, and texts as he expertly unravels some of the most vexing questions associated with these and other sites. Engaging, informative, and written in a style that will appeal to both lay readers and scholars alike, Digging through History is a rare gem. -- T. J. Wray, author of What the Bible Really Tells Us: The Essential Guide to Biblical Literacy
Digging Through History: Archaeology and Religion from Atlantis to the Holocaust is a fascinating glimpse into how archaeologists collect datanot only from a variety of sites, but across an expansive temporal range. Richard Freund imaginatively and intelligently explores how data transform to story, and the crucial roles that archaeology and the scientific method play in that process. -- Jerome Hall, University of San Diego
For scholars and the general public alike, a great deal of what is knownor what we think we knowconcerning persons and events from antiquity to the mid-twentieth century derives from a complex intermingling of material culture and history. Digging through History offers an extraordinarily illuminating series of studies on the relationship between archaeology and history from ancient times to the present day. Freund's approach, which is both deeply personal and scholarly, makes it one of the most accessible books, ever, bridging disparate academic disciplines and a vast chronological sweep. While respectful of religious beliefs and traditions, it rigorously challenges a number of seminal myths concerning monumental historical remains and watershed events. Given the breathtaking range of Freund's investigations on the historical mediation of archaeologyfrom to ocean floor, to arid caves holding the Dead Sea scrolls, to Nazi killing grounds in Polandreaders will be tremendously enriched through the fascinating insights of Digging through History. -- Michael Berkowitz, University College London

Author Bio

Richard A. Freund is Maurice Greenberg Professor of Jewish History and director of the Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford. An archaeologist and ordained rabbi, he has been featured on National Geographic, NOVA, CNN, and the History and Discovery Channels. He is the author of several books, including Digging through the Bible, and he lives in Hartford, CT.