Papers by Tristan Barako
General Psychiatry, 2019
There are many obstacles to developing, maintaining and strengthening international research coll... more There are many obstacles to developing, maintaining and strengthening international research collaborations, whether they are posed by geography, culture or, most recently, global economics and politics. It is critically important to overcome these obstacles, especially when it comes to fostering the types of breakthrough biomedical science that benefit from diverse perspectives, methodologies and data sets. Moreover, the research underlying these breakthroughs unfolds over the course of years, and even decades. For these reasons, and more, the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General) and the Shanghai Mental Health Center (SMHC) are taking the long view: exploring and implementing numerous collaborative research and training projects that are leading to better care and treatments for patients, both in the USA and China, who suffer from a range of psychiatric disorders. We hope that our experiences can serve as a model for other institutions seeking to forge international partnerships focused on medical care, research and training.
Journal of Advances in Health, 2019
This article describes the proceedings of the 2018 Harvard-Shanghai Conference on Brain Health - ... more This article describes the proceedings of the 2018 Harvard-Shanghai Conference on Brain Health - a special
meeting for understanding and intervention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which took place October 12-13, 2018 at the Harvard Center in Shanghai, China. AD is a worldwide disease and an irreversible and
progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Genetics have identified not only mutations in specific genes that are
linked to the inherited early onset form of AD, but also the cause(s) of the more typical late onset form of the
disease. Over the past years, studies have identified new molecular mechanisms and modifiable risk factors of
AD. Understanding the mechanisms and risks of AD enables the development of effective interventions to
prevent or cure the disease. Recent research has shown that the disease can be prevented; and an increasing
number of researchers are developing therapies that can modify disease pathology or reduce risk. This
conference highlighted some of these mechanisms and approaches in translational AD medicine.
Essential to an understanding of the early history of the Philistines is their relationship to Tw... more Essential to an understanding of the early history of the Philistines is their relationship to Twentieth Dynasty Egypt. Egyptian texts, particularly Papyrus Harris I and the Great Inscription at Medinet Habu, have informed the debate over how and when the Philistines came to be settled in southern coastal Canaan. According to the traditional paradigm, the Egyptians forcibly garrisoned the Philistines in southern Canaan after 1174 BCE, which corresponds to the eighth year of Ramesses III’s reign. Increasingly over the past dozen years, however, both the circumstances and the date of the Philistines’ settlement have been called into question. An assessment of these revisionist theories, on the basis of an examination of both textual and archaeological data, is the subject of this paper.
More than 30 years ago the American anthropologist-archaeologist William Adams wrote a seminal ar... more More than 30 years ago the American anthropologist-archaeologist William Adams wrote a seminal article on the interpretation of material culture change in ancient Nubia entitled ‘Invasion, Diffusion, Evolution?’ (1968). In it the author laid bare the inadequacies of invoking population movement to explain changes that could just as easily be attributed to cultural diffusion or evolution. A decade later Adams co-authored another article that took an even dimmer view of ‘migrationism’ (Adams, van Gerven and Levy 1978). In this latter article the authors offered up the Philistines as an example of a ‘historical migration’ – that is, a migration known from texts or through philology, but largely indiscernible through excavation. Although many of their points are well taken, the case of the Philistines should have been exempted from this sweeping criticism of the migrationist tendencies of culture-history. In addition to the textual evidence that attests to the movement and settlement of Philistines and other Sea Peoples along the Levantine coast, there is a burgeoning corpus of supportive archaeological data. Indeed, the Philistines, based on extensive excavations at three of their capital cities (i.e., Ashdod, Ashkelon and Tel Miqne-Ekron), provide a superb case study of migration from an archaeological perspective.
The main purpose of this paper, however, is not to address Adams’ passing dismissal of the Philistine migration as an archaeologically observable event; but, rather, to counter the more focused and sustained revisionist thinking of the past decade regarding the Sea Peoples phenomenon. First, though, it is necessary to present a brief history of how the Philistines and their fellow Sea Peoples have been regarded over the past 150 years.
In the absence of chronological anchors for the twelfth century BCE in southern Canaan, scholars ... more In the absence of chronological anchors for the twelfth century BCE in southern Canaan, scholars have often relied on two interrelated, geopolitical events that affected the region at this time: first, the migration and settlement of the Philistines; and, second, the withdrawal of the Egyptian hegemonic presence. According to the traditional paradigm, the Philistines wrested control of southern coastal Canaan from Egypt ca. 1175 BCE. Recent revisionist theories, however, hold that the Philistines arrived after the Egyptian withdrawal from the region at about 1130 BCE. At the heart of the matter lie the following questions: Did the Philistines and Egyptians coexist and, if they did, were their material culture boundaries impermeable? An examination of sites that possess either Philistine or Egyptianized material culture may provide an answer. An analysis of the excavations at Tel Mor, a small Egyptian outpost located close to the Philistine city of Ashdod, is an especially important case study in this regard.
A FEW YEARS AGO, the dedicatee of this volume colorfully referred to the “pummeling” received by ... more A FEW YEARS AGO, the dedicatee of this volume colorfully referred to the “pummeling” received by kings David and Solomon at the hands of biblical “minimalists” and revisionist Israeli archaeologists (Stager 2003:63). Since then, the barrage has continued (e.g., Finkelstein and Silberman 2006, esp. pp. 161–62), but few body blows have been landed (Coogan 2006). In defense of the “maximalist” paradigm, Stager combined evidence contained within the biblical text with archaeological data to demonstrate that the Solomonic kingdom should still be sought in such tenth-century B.C.E. strata as Megiddo VA–IVB, Taanach IIB, Hazor X, and Gezer VIII. This kingdom was patrimonial in origin and structure, as evidenced, for example, by the administrative districts created by Solomon (1 Kings 4:7–19). Contrary to numerous eminent biblical historians (but cf. Aharoni 1979: 280), Stager argued that these districts closely followed preexisting tribal boundaries and were not a bureaucratic imposition of the United Monarchy.
The sixth district listed in 1 Kings 4 was located in the northern Transjordan and had as its center Ramoth-gilead (v. 13), a site sometimes identified with Tell er-Rumeith. Thanks to generous funding from the Shelby White–Leon Levy Program for Archaeological Publication, I will publish the excavations conducted at Rumeith. My preliminary analysis of these excavations and of the biblical texts relating to the northern Transjordan corroborates Stager’s reconstruction of the Solomonic kingdom.
American Journal of Archaeology, 2000
In recent years the traditional view of the Philistine settlement has been called into question b... more In recent years the traditional view of the Philistine settlement has been called into question by a growing number of scholars. Rather than being understood as a result of population movement, the sudden appearance of the intrusive Philistine material culture in southern coastal Canaan during the first half of the 12th century B.C. is attributed to mechanisms of trade. Locally produced Mycenaean IIIC:1b pottery, the widely held hallmark of the Philistine settlement, is now seen by some as reflecting the activity of a loose confederation of maritime merchants based in Cyprus, who distributed massive quantities of this type of pottery throughout the eastern Mediterranean. The archaeological evidence, however, does not support this alternative explanatory model. Three aspects of the Philistine settlement belie assigning to trade such a formative role in the foundation of these sites: 1) the complete absence of imports, 2) the fully urbanized character of the sites and socioeconomically diverse range of the population, and 3) the clear destruction levels directly preceding Philistine strata. In short, the available evidence best fits the traditional model of the Philistine settlement: hostile invasion by a migrating population bearing a distinctively new material culture.
Book Reviews by Tristan Barako
Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 2008
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2004
Book chapters by Tristan Barako
T he following description of the stratigraphy of Tell er-Rumeith is based on a variety of source... more T he following description of the stratigraphy of Tell er-Rumeith is based on a variety of sources. First and foremost are the field notebooks, which were kept for all the excavated squares ( , except for the soundings along the eastern slope (NE 8-1 and NE 13-1). The stratum plans are pieced together from top plan drawings contained in the notebooks. Only the plan for Stratum VII/VIIB had been drafted in preliminary form ( ). The section drawings also are adapted from the notebooks. 1 The copious photographs taken in the field were extremely helpful in reconstructing the stratigraphy and appear throughout this chapter. Finally, published preliminary reports (esp. P. Lapp 1975 and N. Lapp 1993) were a valuable reference.
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Papers by Tristan Barako
meeting for understanding and intervention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which took place October 12-13, 2018 at the Harvard Center in Shanghai, China. AD is a worldwide disease and an irreversible and
progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Genetics have identified not only mutations in specific genes that are
linked to the inherited early onset form of AD, but also the cause(s) of the more typical late onset form of the
disease. Over the past years, studies have identified new molecular mechanisms and modifiable risk factors of
AD. Understanding the mechanisms and risks of AD enables the development of effective interventions to
prevent or cure the disease. Recent research has shown that the disease can be prevented; and an increasing
number of researchers are developing therapies that can modify disease pathology or reduce risk. This
conference highlighted some of these mechanisms and approaches in translational AD medicine.
The main purpose of this paper, however, is not to address Adams’ passing dismissal of the Philistine migration as an archaeologically observable event; but, rather, to counter the more focused and sustained revisionist thinking of the past decade regarding the Sea Peoples phenomenon. First, though, it is necessary to present a brief history of how the Philistines and their fellow Sea Peoples have been regarded over the past 150 years.
The sixth district listed in 1 Kings 4 was located in the northern Transjordan and had as its center Ramoth-gilead (v. 13), a site sometimes identified with Tell er-Rumeith. Thanks to generous funding from the Shelby White–Leon Levy Program for Archaeological Publication, I will publish the excavations conducted at Rumeith. My preliminary analysis of these excavations and of the biblical texts relating to the northern Transjordan corroborates Stager’s reconstruction of the Solomonic kingdom.
Book Reviews by Tristan Barako
Book chapters by Tristan Barako
meeting for understanding and intervention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which took place October 12-13, 2018 at the Harvard Center in Shanghai, China. AD is a worldwide disease and an irreversible and
progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Genetics have identified not only mutations in specific genes that are
linked to the inherited early onset form of AD, but also the cause(s) of the more typical late onset form of the
disease. Over the past years, studies have identified new molecular mechanisms and modifiable risk factors of
AD. Understanding the mechanisms and risks of AD enables the development of effective interventions to
prevent or cure the disease. Recent research has shown that the disease can be prevented; and an increasing
number of researchers are developing therapies that can modify disease pathology or reduce risk. This
conference highlighted some of these mechanisms and approaches in translational AD medicine.
The main purpose of this paper, however, is not to address Adams’ passing dismissal of the Philistine migration as an archaeologically observable event; but, rather, to counter the more focused and sustained revisionist thinking of the past decade regarding the Sea Peoples phenomenon. First, though, it is necessary to present a brief history of how the Philistines and their fellow Sea Peoples have been regarded over the past 150 years.
The sixth district listed in 1 Kings 4 was located in the northern Transjordan and had as its center Ramoth-gilead (v. 13), a site sometimes identified with Tell er-Rumeith. Thanks to generous funding from the Shelby White–Leon Levy Program for Archaeological Publication, I will publish the excavations conducted at Rumeith. My preliminary analysis of these excavations and of the biblical texts relating to the northern Transjordan corroborates Stager’s reconstruction of the Solomonic kingdom.
A cursory glance at a map quickly reveals that travel from most proposed Philistine homelands (i.e., mainland Greece, the Aegean Islands, Crete, Cyprus) to southern coastal Canaan require travel by sea; however, travel from two others (i.e., coastal Asia Minor, Cilicia) do not. A large-scale, overland migration from these latter regions, although possible, would have been extremely difficult because of the geographic barriers present along this route. More telling is the pattern of sites that have produced the so-called, Sea Peoples material culture: they are all located on or near the coast, thus strongly suggesting that the settlers of these sites arrived by sea.
An examination of the excavation and survey data relating to southern coastal Canaan at the time of the Philistine settlement indicates the influx of a large, foreign population. The question remains, however, was maritime capability ca. 1200 BCE commensurate to the task of transporting a great number of people across considerable distances? Evidence contained in texts, iconography, and the results of underwater
archaeology pertaining to Late Bronze Age seafaring indicates that, indeed, it was.
A secondary source of data for the Philistine migration is later, better documented, seaborne migrations, such as the Greek colonization of the western Mediterranean. Contemporary histories combined with extensive excavation of the settlement regions provide a clearer picture of most aspects of these later migrations by sea than is available for the Philistines. Finally, the application of migration principles generated in other social scientific fields to the context of the Philistine settlement leads to a broader understanding of the process of the Philistines’ migration.
To unlock its secrets, two teams of scientists and sculptors immerse themselves in the world of ancient Egypt — a land of pharaohs and pyramids, animal gods and mummies, sun worship and human sacrifice.
The memory of the Philistines plays a role also in the ongoing struggle between Palestinian and Israeli nationalism. Noting the similarity in names, some Palestinian archaeologists see in the Philistines their ancient ancestors. Some of these same scholars also embrace the “minimalist” approach to biblical history, whereby the existence of an Israelite nation in Palestine during the Iron Age (ca. 1,000–587 BCE) is called into question. The fictive lineage of the former stakes the Palestinian claim to primacy in the land, and the revisionism of the latter undermines the historical and symbolic basis of Jewish Zionism and Israeli statehood.
Four cities of the Philistine Pentapolis have been extensively excavated over the past few decades. It is clear from their material culture that the Philistines originated in the Aegean world. They were, therefore, of Indo-European and not Semitic stock, a feature frequently noted by pro-Israeli opinion writers. At the same time, however, like-minded editorialists utilize the biblical trope of the ancient Philistine to demonize the modern Palestinian. Here, too, archaeology sets the record straight: The Philistines were at first far more culturally advanced than their Israelite contemporaries.
The Bible's Buried Secrets takes viewers on a fascinating scientific journey that began 3,000 years ago and continues to this day. The film presents the latest archeological scholarship from the Holy Land to explore the beginnings of modern religion and the origins of the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament. This archeological detective story tackles some of the biggest questions in biblical studies. Where did the ancient Israelites come from? Who wrote the Bible, when, and why? How did the worship of one god - the foundation of modern Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - emerge? A powerful intersection of science, scholarship, and scripture, The Bible's Buried Secrets provides unique insight into the deeper meaning of these biblical texts and their continuing resonance through the centuries.
We’re very excited about the upcoming premiere of The Bible’s Buried Secrets and eager to get your feedback. I’d be happy to answer questions about the big issues raised by the film (who wrote the Bible, Israelite origins, emergence of monotheism), as well as how biblical archaeologists go about their work.
Original footage produced for NOVA by Gary Glassman; video podcast produced by Melissa Salpietra and Susan K. Lewis and edited by Melissa Salpietra. The Bible's Buried Secrets is a Providence Pictures Production for NOVA in association with National Geographic Channel.