James B. Pritchard (1909-1997) was an eminent biblical archaeologist who excavated some of the major sites of the ancient Near East. He was professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania and the Hays-Fulbright Professor of Archaeology at the American University in Beirut. He was awarded a medal from King Hussein for the achievements made during his seven excavations in Jordan and the gold medal of the Archaeologists Institute of America.
