11. What archaeological evidence do we have for the Hebrew people about 1200 BCE?

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Little evidence has been found in support of the Exodus from Egypt or conquest of Canaan, although multiple small villages appeared in Canaan. These were sedentary and small communities, surviving off of farming and herding. The Hebrew people do not appear in history until Egyptian king Meneptah reigns from 1224 to 1211 BC. Before then, Hebrew history was written by the Hebrews in Genesis 12-50 and traced to Abraham from Mesopotamia, and while it's very hard to place this date because of the one thousand year passing period, the time frame is approximated between 1950 and 1500 BC. One account, inscribed in granite, of one of Meneptah's military expeditions in Asia names the Israelites in a list of conquered people, saying that they are "now living in Canaan," providing substantial archaeological evidence. Speaking archaeologically, evidence for government and the Hebrew people is much higher after Solomon (930 BC), once Israel was divided into Israel and Judah.

- Leila Pulaski

Human Origins Manual Pages 112- 115 http://www.religion.ucsb.edu/faculty/thomas/classes/rgst80a/spielvogel.html