Archaeology, History, and Formation of Identity in Ancient IsraelA critical examination of the history of Israel. When did Israel begin? The origins of ancient Israel are shrouded in mystery, and those hoping to explore the issue must utilize resources from three different fieldsarchaeology, epigraphy, and biblical textsand then examine their interrelations while keeping in mind that the name Israel was not used to describe just one state but referred to numerous entities at different times. Archaeology, History,