Lawrence Stager
Encyclopedia
Lawrence E. "Larry" Stager (born January 5, 1943) is Dorot Professor of the Archaeology of Israel
in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University
and is Director of the Harvard Semitic Museum. Since 1985 he has overseen the excavations of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon
, the great Philistine port city.
, about fifty miles northwest of Columbus, Ohio
. He was recruited by the Harvard Club of Dayton, Ohio
to attend Harvard University, where he graduated a BA
magna cum laude in 1965. Stager would go on to receive both his MA
and PhD
from Harvard, where he worked largely under the supervision of Frank Moore Cross
and G. Ernest Wright
, both students of William F. Albright
. The title of his thesis was "Ancient Agriculture in the Judaean Desert: A Case Study of the Buqê'ah Valley in the Iron Age."
, where he taught and researched for the next fourteen years as a member of the Oriental Institute, first as an instructor (1973-4), then as an assistant (1974-6), associate (1976–1985), and finally full professor (1985-6).
In 1986, Stager returned to Harvard, where he became the inaugural holder of an endowed chair, the Dorot Professorship of the Archaeology of Israel. He has held this position since that time. Professor Stager currently teaches courses in Syro-Palestinian archaeology
and Hebrew Bible
and is an active professional member of the American Schools of Oriental Research
(ASOR).
In 2009, a Festschrift
for Professor Stager was published under the title Exploring the Longue Durée: Essays in Honor of Lawrence E. Stager (Ed. J. David Schloen; Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns).
, of which he has been the director since 1985. This expedition is one of the largest and lengthiest projects in Israel. The results of the dig have been published in the Harvard Semitic Museum and Eisenbrauns
' Ashkelon, a series of ten volumes, the third of which was published in 2011.
Prior to his monumental undertakings at Ashkelon, Stager had worked on digs at Carthage
, Idalion, Gezer
, and Tell el-Hesi
. Stager has generally adhered to the traditional scholarly dating of the "United Monarchy
" of King David and Solomon
.
Archaeology of Israel
The archaeology of Israel is the study of the archaeology of Israel, stretching from prehistory through three millennia of documented history. The ancient Land of Israel was a geographical bridge between the political and cultural centers of Mesopotamia and Egypt...
in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and is Director of the Harvard Semitic Museum. Since 1985 he has overseen the excavations of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon
Ashkelon
Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age...
, the great Philistine port city.
Education
Stager was a first-generation college student from Kenton, OhioKenton, Ohio
Kenton is a city in and the county seat of Hardin County, Ohio, United States, along the Scioto River. The population was 8,262 at the 2010 census. It is named for Kentucky/Ohio frontiersman, Simon Kenton...
, about fifty miles northwest of Columbus, Ohio
Columbus
Columbus is a Latinized version of the Italian surname "Colombo". It most commonly refers to:*Christopher Columbus*Columbus, Ohio, United StatesColumbus may also refer to:- People :* Bartholomew Columbus, younger brother of Christopher...
. He was recruited by the Harvard Club of Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
to attend Harvard University, where he graduated a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
magna cum laude in 1965. Stager would go on to receive both his MA
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts is a high academic degree offered at many universities in Europe and the United States.A Master of Arts, Magister Artium, or Magister in Artibus may also refer to:...
and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Harvard, where he worked largely under the supervision of Frank Moore Cross
Frank Moore Cross
Frank Moore Cross, Jr. is Hancock Professor of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages Emeritus at Harvard University, notable for his work in the interpretation of the Dead Sea Scrolls, his 1973 magnum opus Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, and his work in Northwest Semitic epigraphy...
and G. Ernest Wright
G. Ernest Wright
George Ernest Wright , was a leading Old Testament scholar and biblical archaeologist. Expert in Ancient Near Eastern archaeology, he was especially known for his work in the study and dating of pottery.-Biography:...
, both students of William F. Albright
William F. Albright
William Foxwell Albright was an American archaeologist, biblical scholar, philologist and expert on ceramics. From the early twentieth century until his death, he was the dean of biblical archaeologists and the universally acknowledged founder of the Biblical archaeology movement...
. The title of his thesis was "Ancient Agriculture in the Judaean Desert: A Case Study of the Buqê'ah Valley in the Iron Age."
Academic Positions
After receiving his PhD, Stager was first employed by the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, where he taught and researched for the next fourteen years as a member of the Oriental Institute, first as an instructor (1973-4), then as an assistant (1974-6), associate (1976–1985), and finally full professor (1985-6).
In 1986, Stager returned to Harvard, where he became the inaugural holder of an endowed chair, the Dorot Professorship of the Archaeology of Israel. He has held this position since that time. Professor Stager currently teaches courses in Syro-Palestinian archaeology
Syro-Palestinian archaeology
Syro-Palestinian archaeology is a term used to refer to archaeological research conducted in the southern Levant. Palestinian archaeology is also commonly used in its stead, particularly when the area of inquiry centers on ancient Palestine...
and Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
and is an active professional member of the American Schools of Oriental Research
American Schools of Oriental Research
The American Schools of Oriental Research, founded in 1900, supports and encourages the study of the peoples and cultures of the Near East, from the earliest times to the present. It is apolitical and has no religious affiliation...
(ASOR).
In 2009, a Festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
for Professor Stager was published under the title Exploring the Longue Durée: Essays in Honor of Lawrence E. Stager (Ed. J. David Schloen; Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns).
Archaeological Work
Stager's most important archaeological work has been conducted through the Leon Levy Expedition to AshkelonAshkelon
Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age...
, of which he has been the director since 1985. This expedition is one of the largest and lengthiest projects in Israel. The results of the dig have been published in the Harvard Semitic Museum and Eisenbrauns
Eisenbrauns
Eisenbrauns is an international academic publisher specializing in the ancient Near East and biblical studies. They publish approximately a dozen new books and reference works each year, as well as reprinting out-of-print books relating to biblical studies. All publications are available in print...
' Ashkelon, a series of ten volumes, the third of which was published in 2011.
Prior to his monumental undertakings at Ashkelon, Stager had worked on digs at Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
, Idalion, Gezer
Gezer
Gezer was a Canaanite city-state and biblical town in ancient Israel. Tel Gezer , an archaeological site midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, is now an Israeli national park....
, and Tell el-Hesi
Tell el-Hesi
Tell el-Hesi is a 25-acre archaeological site in Israel. It was the first major site excavated in Palestine, first by Flinders Petrie in 1890 and later by Frederick Jones Bliss in 1891 and 1892, both sponsored by the Palestine Exploration Fund...
. Stager has generally adhered to the traditional scholarly dating of the "United Monarchy
United Monarchy
According to Biblical tradition, the united Kingdom of Israel was a kingdom that existed in the Land of Israel, a period referred to by scholars as the United Monarchy. Biblical historians date the kingdom from c. 1020 BCE to c...
" of King David and Solomon
Solomon
Solomon , according to the Book of Kings and the Book of Chronicles, a King of Israel and according to the Talmud one of the 48 prophets, is identified as the son of David, also called Jedidiah in 2 Samuel 12:25, and is described as the third king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before...
.
External links
- Prof. Stager's contact information at Harvard: http://www.nelc.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k56744&state=popup&topicid=icb.topic991821&view=view.do&viewParam_name=stager.html&viewParam_fname=
- Prof. Stager explains the usage of Biblical ArchaeologyBiblical archaeologyFor the movement associated with William F. Albright and also known as biblical archaeology, see Biblical archaeology school. For the interpretation of biblical archaeology in relation to biblical historicity, see The Bible and history....
: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwB_7ySLCCY&feature=gv