Book Details:
- Author: David Down
- Category: Archaeology, Homeschooling Resources
- Publisher: Master Books (2010)
- Binding: Hardcover
- Page Count: 96
- ISBN #: 0890515735
Recommendation:
- Review Date: 10/19/2010 by Shaun Tabatt
- Rating: Highly recommended
Review:
As a kid, I had many backyard archaeological adventures, that in my childhood mind rivaled the excitement of the most recent Indiana Jones movie. Fortunately, my love of archaeology was more than just a passing boyhood fascination. It is an interest and passion that has stuck with me all the way into adulthood. Being somewhat of a self-proclaimed Bible nerd, archaeology of the Ancient Near East has always been a pet subject. As a homeschooling father, I have been searching for age appropriate resources to introduce my children to the exciting history and archaeology of the peoples of the Ancient Near East. Unfortunately my college archaeology textbooks just won’t do as they are way too wordy for my 8 year old and don’t have nearly enough pictures (let alone color pictures) for my 5 year old. For some time now, I have been on the lookout for a book with engaging color pictures, maps and drawings as well as biblically-relevant content that is accessible for a broad range of age groups. The Archaeology Book published by Master Books is exactly the type of resource I have been looking for.
The Archaeology Book is the latest addition to the Wonders of Creation series. One distinct enhancement in this book over previous books in the series is that the chapters have been organized with three educational levels in mind. Level 1 content is coded yellow and is appropriate for 5th-6th graders, level 2 content is coded blue/gray and is appropriate for 7-8th graders, and level 3 content is coded white and is appropriate for 9th-11th graders. I believe this change enhances the return on investment for this book, allowing it to be more effectively used across multiple grade levels. A more detailed explanation of this new layout is found on page 5 of the book. I expect this layout will be also be utilized for future books in the Wonders of Creation series.
This book is by no means small, coming in at just under one hundred pages. The topics are divided across eleven chapters. Topics covered include:
- Chapter 1: What Archaeology is all About
- Chapter 2: Land of Egypt
- Chapter 3: The Hittites
- Chapter 4: Assyria
- Chapter 6: Babylon: City of Gold
- Chapter 7: Persia
- Chapter 8: Petra
- Chapter 9: The Phoenicians
- Chapter 10: The Dead Sea Scrolls
- Chapter 11: Israel
Each chapter begins with five questions related to the who, what where, why and how of the chapter’s topic. This is especially useful for letting readers know the key information they should be watching for as they work through the chapter. There are many words used in the book that may be new to younger readers. Each of the chapters with especially difficult or unique words includes a list of key terms (i.e. words to know). Definitions for these words can be found in the glossary / index on pages 94-95 at the back of the book.
From beginning to end, readers of all ages will be captivated by the numerous full-color photos, maps, and detailed drawings found throughout the entire book. Children and adults will come away from this book with a better appreciation for the archaeology and history of the peoples of the Ancient ear East. I especially appreciated that David Down makes a good case for how the biblical record fits well with the ongoing discoveries being made in Ancient Near Eastern archaeology. He does an excellent job of putting the people groups in a biblical context, relating biblical accounts of the many people groups mentioned throughout the book. Based on the new content organizational structure, the general age range for this book is fifth through eleventh grades. While this is the target age range, my children as young as five listened intently and enjoyed the many pictures. We will be using The Archaeology Book as supplemental material for year one of Tapestry of Grace homeschool curriculum. If you are planning on incorporating The Archaeology Book into your homeschooling curriculum, you will want to download a copy of the great printable study guide that is available as a free PDF on the Master Books web site.
Author Information:
David Down has experienced the wonders of archaeological discoveries in Egypt, the Middle East and Israel for over 48 years. David shares his latest discoveries in a monthly archaeology journal called “Diggings,” and a bi-monthly magazine called “Archaeological Diggings” produced and distributed in the United States.
Disclaimer:
This book was provided by Master Books for review. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
Related Resources:
- Book Excerpt: Available here
- Author’s Website: www.DiggingsOnline.com
- Purchase Links: Amazon.com or Direct from Master Books
- Download a PDF copy of this review:
- Download a PDF of the The Archaeology Book Study Guide:
- Other books in the Wonders of Creation Series: LINK
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2 users responded in this post
Shaun, does this book list any biblical references with it? I bet it’d be really interesting to use as a companion to certain stories/books of the Bible.
-Brittany
Brittany,
I’d have to go back and verify, but I believe there was a scripture index. The chapters are generally organized around certain ANE people groups and cities, so I think this book would be useful for providing additional background information as you encounter those particular people groups or cities in the Bible.
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