Archaeology and Evidence

What role does Archaeology play in what we believe? For the longest time, there was little evidence of many of the ancient cultures and rulers mentioned in the Old Testament. In the last 150 years though with the advent of Archaeology as a significant course of study, archaeological finds in the Middle East have consistently pointed to the truth of the Bible as an historical record.

I have been thinking about why I believe in the Bible plus nothing, and why I am not open to considering the Book of Mormon as "Another Testament". The main stumbling block is just this: no archaeological evidence of any of the events, places, peoples that are mentioned in the book. The Golden Plates were discovered by Joseph Smith, but have not been retained by his followers. The witnesses to these plates were shown them in a supernatural event or events, involving the presence of angels. No other organizations of any stripe or persuasion have discovered evidence of the cultures and peoples expounded upon, that I know of. How does the LDS church respond to this?