The Archaeology of Early Christianity: A History, by William H. C. Frend. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1996. 412 pp.
William Frend presents the reader with two distinctive trains of thought; the first focusing on the ever increasing knowledge and understanding that scholars of Early Christianity have obtained over time. He demonstrates how the study of Early Christianity has been modified, strengthened and increasingly improved over the past 1,600 years, especially in the last two centuries. Beginning with the exploits of Queen Helena he delineates several investigative eras and discusses in generic terms the important archaeological endeavors and research results. This information alone provides enough of a reason to make this book a welcome addition to anyone's library, since it provides the foundation for understanding current knowledge concerning major centers of Early Christendom: Rome, North Africa, Turkey, Egypt and others.
However, it is the second train of thought that really captured my interest and propelled me through the book. Frend describes how political, religious, and social elements influenced Early Christian archaeology during each of the defined eras; a theme that seems to reflect the Shanks and Tilley statement that archaeology is a "… preformative and transformation endeavor, a transformation of the past in terms of the present (1992: 104)." He begins his discussion with Queen Helena's archaeological efforts and the finding of relics, and ends with a call for Early Christian archaeologists not to become academic fossils researching irrelevant studies. Each of these two extremes can be seen as a reflection of external influences on the archaeologist. By understanding how archaeologists of the past desired to link archaeological artifacts with appropriate Scripture or Church history were constrained by social factors, Frend provides a means to understand the problems present day archaeologists might be facing. While in the past, it can be acknowledged that archaeologists were visible pawns of the establishment forced to constrain their studies to desired results, the book begs the same question for today's archaeologists.
What I found interesting is that for the Christian archaeologists mentioned in the book, these controls were not, and even today are not just religious, but can come from the political and social arenas as well. While the conquests of Napoleon and how archaeology benefitted the world is known, how the concepts spilled over into other political arenas and other states was illuminating, especially concerning its impact on foreign affairs. The use of archaeology in support of foreign affairs in Algeria, northern Africa, Asia Minor (reflecting the European strife), Egypt for the British and other places prior to World War I was an eye opener. However, the use of archaeology for political, economic, and social purposes continued in the period between the two world wars and can be seen even today. The events surrounding the damming of the Nile River, the Dead Sea scrolls, and other events all support the idea that similar influences can be seen even in today's world, especially in the Near East. As Frend winds his way through his history he repeatedly describes the influences from the state, society, and religious arenas. Analysis of these influences stands as a warning; one that we all need to acknowledge, even in this era of open scholarship and academic freedom.
Retrospectively, it would seem that how archaeologists respond and incorporate into their research studies current social, religious, and political influences mandates the future of not only Early Christianity archaeology, but also archaeology in general. This book describes what has happened in the past, and from it, we might be able to learn how to handle the future.
Donald C. McNeeley
Church and Bible Research Group
Donald C. McNeeley, "Review of The Archaeology of Early Christianity: A History, by William H. C. Frend," The Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin 42 (1997): 69–70.