Zertal (ancient near eastern archaeology, U. of Haifa) reports the results of archaeological excavations during 23 years beginning in 1978 in the central hill country of the Land of the Bible, the main setting of the Biblical events, between Hebron and Megiddo. This first of five volumes was published in Hebrew in 1992 (no publisher noted), and the English edition has been revised, bringing forward and citing all the descriptions by past explorers, and adding anthropological and ethnographic material and dates of visits. A folded color topological map of the Syncline of Shechem area with features marked in Hebrew and English is included. Zertal intends the other volumes, two already published in Hebrew, to follow into English in good time. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)