Queries & Comments

We received a LOT of feedback regarding our double issue, “By the Hand of a Woman.” You sent us much praise and thanks, as well as quite a few complaints and a dozen or so “cancel my subscription” requests (notably, only from men. Go figure). We are proud to say that it was one of our best-selling issues. We’ve published some of your letters here, and you can find more letters and responses on our website biblicalarchaeology.org/letters. Thanks to all of you for writing and voicing your opinion. It makes BAR a better magazine.

Gender Equality

Dear Dr. Cargill, please tell us that you were under extreme physical duress and were forced against your will to write your editorial (“The Gender Divide,” BAR, July/August/September/October 2019) and the response to Carolyn Lumsden’s letter (Queries & Comments, BAR, July/August/September/October 2019). Which of these two essays fit the statements, “We do not impose our personal religious beliefs on our published content” or “we present only the best biblical and archaeological scholarship”? Probably neither. Too many internal contradictions for personal politics.

I recommend you stick to biblical archaeology and please leave the “non-white,” “non-male,” “non-sectarian” archaeology for another magazine.