[*Note: In response to recent questions about Dr. Livingston's stand regarding Khirbet el-Maqatir:
Dr. Livingston's research was published prior to Dr. Bryant Wood's excavations at Khirbet el-Maqatir. Dr. Livingston NEVER endorsed Khirbet el-Maqatier as a possible location for Ai, despite the endorsement it has recently been receiving from Associates for Biblical Research. At the time of doing his research and writing his book, Dr. Livingston reviewed the possibilities of Khirbet el-Maqatir as a candidate for Ai but discounted it along with several other unsuitable locations. Among other reasons for disqualifying Khirbet el-Maqatir, Khirbet el-Maqatir meets NONE of the Biblical geographical descriptions of the surrounding areas as noted in Scripture, as well as none of those for the description of Joshua's Battle of Ai. It is precisely for this same reason - namely, looking to find a location that DOES match Biblical descriptions - that he originally discounted other proposed locations for Ai, and began his own research to find the real Ai. It would, therefore, make no sense for him to endorse yet another proposed location that also does not meet the Biblical geographical descriptions of Ai and its surroundings. It is clearly evident that Khirbet Nisya does line up perfectly with all of the Biblical descriptions; thus he stood committed to his belief that Khirbet Nisya is, indeed, the ancient Biblical city of Ai.]
** A Further Note (12.28.16): It has come to our attention that there is confusion for some, we are being told, when watching the 1993 video because Dr. Bryant Wood appears in the video and seems to be supporting Khirbet Nisya as Ai. Thus, we feel a need to clarify a few points. Dr. Livingston originally established ABR for the purpose of creating an organization that would be able to continue his research once he was no longer with us, or should his health not permit his own participation. He also wanted to facilitate a platform for others coming along behind him to be able to share their research in the fields of archaeology, geology, creation vs evolution, anthropology, astronomy,etc. In the early days of ABR, there were few Christian archaeologists with PhD's and Dr. Wood was one of them. There were also few positions available for Christian archaeologists to conduct their research, and obtain a salary. Dr. Livingston invited Dr. Wood to join ABR and share in their research, and Dr. Wood accepted. The assumption was they would each have their own projects but support each other and fill in as needed - there were many projects and questions at that time that needed further research. Initially Dr. Wood was very supportive of Dr. Livingston's work and in 1993 was present at Dr. Livingston's "dig" at Khirbet Nisya. Hence he is in the video. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Livingston suffered a setback in his health, and Dr. Wood took over as director. Not long after that, Dr. Wood, instead of coming up with his own research project, used Dr. Livingston's research for Ai as his own platform, and proceeded to investigate a previously discarded option for Ai - namely Khirbet el-Maqatir. He then routed ABR's resources to facilitate digs at this new location, despite the fact that it did not support the original reasons for searching for Ai in the first place [namely that the geogroaphy/topography of the Khirbet el-Maqatir site does NOT support the Bibilcal descriptions of the Bethel-Ai countryside]. It seems counter to the goals of ABR to attempt to locate and substantiate an additional site that DOES NOT support the Biblical descriptions (Dr.Allbright's site also did not, which is why the search for a new option began in the first place)! Despite the dispute, Dr. Wood has spent many recent years now declaring his site, Khirbet el-Maqatir, as "THE Biblical Ai." Thus, an unfortunate rift has developed within ABR and some of its members. Dr. Livingston never supported the research of Dr. Wood regarding Khirbet el-Maqatir, and in his later years Dr. Livingston also came to question aspects of Dr. Wood's research on Jericho. Dr. Livingston also disputed many of Dr. Wood's claims regarding his findings at Khirbet el-Maqatir (his claim of finding city gate posts being one); Dr. Livingston is backed by a number of other colleagues, including the late Dr. Amos Ehrlich, who all agree Dr. Wood's site, Khirbet el-Maqatir, is most likely the Biblical city of Beit Aven.