The Philistines—biblical enemies of the ancient Israelites—were one of many tribes known to historians as the “Sea Peoples,” who appeared in Near Eastern history in the 12th century BCE. It has long been thought that they originated somewhere in the Aegean, from where they invaded Anatolia and the Levant. But recent archaeological discoveries at Tel Tayinat (known in the Bible as Calno) in southern Turkey suggest a different theory. Julia Fridman writes
More than one inscription found at Tel Tayinat, written in the Luwian language used by the Hittites, referred to a mysterious “King Taita,” ruler of “Walistin” or “Patin.” . . . No one had ever heard of him. It seemed a new kingdom with a new and powerful king was being uncovered. . . .
A breakthrough came [when archaeologists digging] in Aleppo, Syria . . . found a relief and dedicatory inscription to “Taita, king and hero of Patastini” and another to “Taita, conqueror of Carchemish.” Taita had restored this ancient temple and had a dedicatory inscription made of his great achievements.
Based on this discovery, the reinterpretation of one Luwian hieroglyphic sign, and the amassing of archaeological evidence, John David Hawkins, a Luwian expert, [concluded] that everybody had been reading these inscriptions wrong, and that the w sound should in fact be read as a p, making Walistin into Palistin [and] Patasatini [into] Palasatini [i.e., “Philistine].
Rather than the “Sea Peoples-invasion” theory, [the archaeologist Timothy Harrison, who has been conducting excavations at Tel Tayinat] suspects that, over time, Philistines migrated in small numbers to the area, and assimilated with the locals. Their arrival was a complex scenario, he says, not some Hollywood movie-type blitz.
Read more on Haaretz: http://www.haaretz.com/life/archaeology/1.676943