Researching ancient history can be tricky. It requires connecting the dots (clues) that are scattered throughout many different  “__ologies,” such as anthropology, geology, archaeology, philosophy, theology, literature, history, and the history of science and medicine. All of these require core skills and innovative and informed approaches to theories. (That’s education-speak for: make your best guess based on what you uncover.)

As a writer of historical fiction (specifically on Biblical characters), I have often wished that I didn’t have to sift through multiple theories on one event or time-frame, but could have the facts so clearly laid out that there’s no room for alternative theories. That is seldom the case.

I had assumed figuring out which Pharoahs were in charge in Egypt during the time of the Biblical patriarchs would be a “piece of cake.” It wasn’t. Theories abound about timelines (not my strong suit), and I found myself researching in circles.

That is why I get so thrilled when new discoveries match up with other known facts and cement dates, places, peoples, and timelines together. Thank you to all of pursuers of history out there, whatever your area of study may be. I appreciate your passion, diligence, and the sharing of your knowledge.

This blog was triggered by an article in the Winter 2018 Issue of Popular Archaeology: Three Skeletons and a Fiery Destruction. 

Archaeologists in central Israel discovered 3,200-year-old skeletal remains of two adults and a child who were killed in a fiery conflagration. They have pinpointed the skeletons to come from the late Bronze Age, during an attach on Canaanites by an Egyptian arms under Pharaoh Merenptah, ancient Egypt’s famous fourth ruler during the Nineteenth Dynasty.