For every mound excavated in the Near East, a hundred remain untouched. ...most of the excavated mounds have been dug only in small part. - Cyrus Herzl Gordon

The ancients were not as denominationally minded as we in matters of their clergy. They were more concerned with obtaining services of a bona fide professional member of a priestley guild who was qualified to intercede between mortals and immortals, than with finding a religious leader whose sole qualification was like-mindedness.

Historical, sociological, literary, linguistic, archeological and other techniques must be brought to bear when they are applicable to the material at hand.

The [Judaic] Patriarchs are depicted as Arameans as long as they remained in their native lands.