Institute of Archaeology Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum

Fall 2005 Volume1, Issue 1

New Museum Offers an Interactive Journey into the Biblical World

he grand opening of the Lynn H. photographs, illustrations, maps, and TWood Archaeological Museum original artwork that set the objects in introduces several firsts in the south- context and show how they were used eastern United States. For the first in ancient times. time one of the largest teaching collections of ancient Near Eastern power for mind & soul artifacts in North America is on public In this Issue: exhibit. Dr. William G. Dever, Ameri- Museum Introduction...... 1-3 Institute of Archaeology ca’s foremost Near Eastern archaeolo- Museum Wins Award...... 3 P. O. Box 370 Excavations in Israel...... 4 Collegedale gist, placed the collection at Southern Letter from the Director...... 5 Tennessee 37315 Adventist University in January 2000. Hasel in Cyprus...... 6 423.236.2986 Over two hundred artifacts and ob- Excavation Endowment...... 7 Fax: 423.236.1977 jects are exhibited to the background archaeology.southern.edu Development Goals...... 7 of a stunning display of over 220 Upcoming Events...... 8  It is the first time that a state-of-the-art tion for our B.A. program in archaeology, but to museum focuses on the ancient Near East – the the wider community,” said Hasel. “The museum cradle of civilization – from a biblical perspec- serves the southeastern United States as an tive. The strength of the collection is the com- important cultural resource that aims to educate plete sequences of pottery forms from the Early and communicate the rich cultural history of the Bronze Age, the time of the patriarchs, all the ancient Near East which serves as the founda- way through the Byzantine period. That means tion for western civilization. Through scheduled that through 3,500 years of history the devel- lectures and changing exhibits we hope that as opment and changes in lamps, dipper juglets, many as possible will visit the campus and be bowls, and other forms are traced. There are also introduced to this vital discipline.” unique artifacts, such as letters written in cunei- Professor William G. Dever stated in his form from Ur in Mesopotamia, a clay brick from public address at the grand opening, “Over the Babylon inscribed with Nebuchadnezzar’s name, course of my career I have had the opportunity weapons of copper and iron, and even a clay to consult for many museums around the world. chariot that is over 4,200 years old. Together This museum is exceptional because it combines they connect the visitor tangibly to a world that the latest in museum design with a truly educa- many have only read about in the Bible. tional experience. The visitor will come many It is the first time that certain educational times and still learn more with each visit.” opportunities are made available to the public. Today the dream has become a reality as the “Our goal is to make the museum available not public is invited to experience: Vessels in Time: A only to students on this campus and as a founda- Journey into the Biblical World. Museum News

Museum Makes Headlines and Wins Award

he opening of the Lynn H. Wood Ar- Dr. Ron Clouzet, Dean of the School of Tchaeological Museum brought visitors from Religion, accepted the award on behalf of the around the country and made local and interna- museum. Helen Durichek, Associate Vice-Presi- tional news. Interviews were scheduled on local dent of Finan- radio and television stations and reporters came cial Administra- from leading magazines. Chattanooga City Scope tion, and Ruthie Magazine (Spring, 2005) described the exhibit “an Gray, Director informative beginning to an amazing journey.” of Marketing The flagship magazine of the church, the Adventist and University Review (January 27, 2005) pronounced it “a tech- Relations also nically strong and accessible exhibit that never attended the looses sight of its goal to make the life ways of event which was the biblical world understandable to contempo- held in Clarks- rary people.” ville, Tennessee. On March 22, the museum received an The association award of excellence from the Tennessee As- presents awards sociation of Museums. The award reads: “2004 as part of its annual convention. “This is a high Commendation Presented to the Lynn H. Wood honor for our museum to be recognized by this Archaeological Museum in recognition of super- group of peers,” stated Gray in a news release. lative achievement for the Permanent Exhibition The museum maintains active membership in – “Vessels in Time: A Journey into the Biblical the Tennessee Association of Museums and the World.” American Association of Museums.  Excavating Hazor, Largest Biblical Site in Israel Excavation/Tour

alking in the footsteps of Solomon and Other students focused on the later Iron WAhab is one thing, but to uncover one Age city. In front of the massive six-entry way of their ancient cities adds a new perspective to gate dated to Solomon (1 Kgs 9:15), the city was the expression to reach out and touch the past. expanded later under king Ahab. Here efforts This past summer, for the second season stu- were made dents and faculty participated excavated in Israel to clear away from, June 20-August 3. It has been our goal to the Iron Age work in Israel for several years. Collaborating remains and with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem at the continue to largest Old Testament site in Israel was a thrill- expand the ing experience and brought far-reaching rewards huge biding for training archaeology students at Southern or fortifica- Adventist University, said Dr. Michael G. Hasel, tion sys- Director of the Institute of Archaeology. tem. Chris The ancient site of Hazor served as the head Chadwick, of all those kingdoms according to the account a senior in Joshua 11 which relates the destruction of the archaeol- city and its king Jabin. A cuneiform tablet written ogy major, in ancient Akkadian records that the king of the worked for city was ’Ibni-Adu. The first part of the name is the full six- the equivalent to Jabin. The biblical description week season of “head of all those kingdoms” (Josh 11:10) fits trying to get the huge 200-acre site of the Canaanite period to the floor which was strategically part of a vast interna- of the huge tional trade network spanning to Mari and across structure to ancient Babylon. The city of Hazor is 10-20 mud brick times the size of any other contemporary city in wall struc- Canaan and was by far the most important city ture. Finally of the second millennium BC in Israel, according we reached to Amnon Ben-Tor the director of Hazor Excava- the floor tions. Students working in this period uncovered where the enormous mud brick walls spanning 4-5 meter important pottery would reveal the date of the across and the remains of a palace. The Canaan- building. Currently it would seem that the date ite palace was of the building was Middle Bronze, but we will completely have to wait until next season to be sure.” One of destroyed in the highlight small finds of the season was a jar a conflagra- stopper with two Egyptian seal impressions. tion reaching Students were engaged in each facet of the 1300 degrees work which included early mornings out at the C. Mudbricks site, pottery washing, processing artifacts, and and pottery recording. The field school included lectures on were found Monday and Wednesday, tours on the weekends melted. to other excavation sites throughout Israel, and Within the pertinent reading. “It was difficult work,” said palace several Anna Lee Beagle, sophomore archaeology major, statues were found in previous seasons with the “But it was well worth it. What an incredible ex- heads and hands removed reminiscent of prac- perience to see biblical history uncovered before tices at other sites where gods were disabled after your very eyes!” Plans are being laid for contin- the defeat of a city. ued work at this leading biblical site in Israel.  Director’s Letter

Where is Archaeology in the Lands of the Bible Heading Today?

ince the dawn of archaeological research 45 sponsored excavations by American teams Sin the ancient Near East in 1798, no other from such diverse institutions as Johns Hopkins, discipline has provided more new data and Harvard, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, insights on the people, places, and events of Drew-McCormick, Concordia Lutheran, and biblical history. This ranges from uncovering other religious institutions. It was in this vein the ancient gates of Babylon and discovering that William F. Albright wrote in 1964, “America Nebuchadnezzar’s name on thousands of bricks is in process of becoming the academic center of to excavations in Egypt where it was found that research in this field.” Shishak did campaign against Judah and Israel as But in the 1970s the commemorated in his reliefs at Karnak. Perse- general demise of what had polis revealed a sophisticated palace of wealth traditionally been hailed and culture unsurpassed in the first millennium. as biblical archaeology Archaeology, by seeking to understand ancient caused several seminar- cultures and life-ways through a study of these ies and other institutions material remains, brings us face to face with the to lessen support for the past and ultimately leads us to realize how we discipline. Several profes- have become what we are today. sorial positions closed and American archaeologists focusing on the an- others were not filled after cient Near East played a major role in the devel- retirements. In the last fif- opment of archaeology in that part of the world, teen years the postmodern often out of their devotion to the Bible. The agenda in biblical scholar- 1950s and 1960s experienced the heyday of the ship has been assailing the biblical archaeology movement. Scholars were historical core of the Bible. trained at Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Dr. Dever in a recent and Chicago as well as seminaries where a strong book argues vehemently emphasis was placed on biblical scholarship against these postmodern trends, not in an at- along side archaeological research. Led by such tempt to rescue the Bible, but as an archaeologist influential thinkers as William F. Albright, Nelson sifting through all the available data archaeology Glueck, and G. Ernest Wright, American institu- has produced over the last 200 years. He writes tions led the way in archaeological excavations in his recent book What Did the Biblical Writ- in Israel. They were engaged in uncovering the ers Know and When Did They Know It? (Eerdmans, monumental gates of Solomon and excavating 2001): “The revisionists tend to distort or even major biblical cities like Megiddo, Shechem, and ignore what many now see as the primary source Gibeon, and Gibeah. As the graph shows from for writing the history of ancient Israel, namely 1950-1970, in two decades, there were nearly modern archaeology.” All of this has had a major impact on archae- 100 ological funding and research in the Middle East. 90 American influence in Near Eastern archaeology 80 has waned. Last year, after three years of conflict 70 in Iraq, only one American sponsored excava- 60 tion remained in Israel. Israelis now dominate a 50 USA discipline which Americans and other foreign 40 I sraeli interests played such a major part in establishing. 30 F oreign Southern Adventist University, is poised with 20 these new resources to make a lasting contribu- tion to the questions that are driving biblical 10 scholarship today. To quote Dever again, “If 0 1950- 1970- 1980- 2000- Biblical circles do not undergird Biblical archae- 1970 1980 2000 ology, who will?”  Hasel in Cyprus as

Publication Fulbright Senior Scholar

rom January to August, 2005, Dr. Michael G. (American Research Center in Egypt), Germany FHasel, Director of the Institute of Archae- (Institute of Archaeology, University of Munich), ology and Curator of the Lynn H. Wood Ar- and an invitation to be a lecturer and consultant chaeological Museum spent his sabbatical in the at the Institute of Archaeology, Bar-Ilan Univer- Republic of Cyprus. Hasel was awarded a Ful- sity in Tel Aviv, Israel. bright Scholar Grant from the U.S. Department Dr. Hasel presented the preliminary results of State. His project was to conduct research for the CAARI Lecture Series in Nicosia. After and write a book entitled: The Name Equation: demonstrat- Designating Eastern Mediterranean Peoples, ing that the Places, and Polities in New Kingdom Egypt at Egyptians were the Cyprus American Archaeological Research remarkably ac- Institute (CAARI) in Nicosia. curate in their The results of the study will have significant definition of implications for defining how the Egyptians these peoples described and defined peoples and places such and places, he as the Hittites, went on to fo- Canaan, the cus specifically Philistines, Moab, on one aspect Israel, and Alasiya of his study (Cyprus) as well – the identity Detail from a relief of the City of Kadesh being attacked by as specific cities of Cyprus in Ramses II. within those ter- Egyptian texts. ritories. Until the Colleagues from Cyprus, Israel, the European 1970s the identifi- continent, and the United States were present cation of a majority as well as representatives from the US Embassy of these designa- among others. tions enjoyed wide “Dr. Hasel’s research as the Fulbright Senior acceptance among Scholar this year has definitively answered the Near Eastern phi- question of the identity of Cyprus for the schol- lologists, historians, arly community and his work will undoubtedly and archaeologists. be referenced for years to come,” said Dr. Thom- In recent years the as Davis, the director of CAARI. “It has been a scholarly consensus personal pleasure for myself and the researchers has changed. Many at CAARI to have Dr. Hasel with us.” questions have Presentations are also planned for the annual been raised. Were meetings of the American Schools of Oriental these intended as Research in Philadelphia, the American Oriental ethnic, sociocul- Society, and the American Research Center in Hasel family with Daniel Hadjittofi, executive direc- tural, or geographi- Egypt. A final publication under the current title tor of the Cyprus Fulbright Commission cal designations? of the project is planned in book form. Can we be certain that the authors of these texts “The experience to engage in this level knew what they were recording? How accurate of scholarship and interact with colleagues in were they and how can their information be cor- Cyprus is has been very beneficial professionally related with the archaeological data? The an- and personally,” reflected Dr. Hasel. “Not only swers to these questions have a direct bearing on have we been able to raise awareness, but we the accuracy of geographical descriptions found have been able to plan for future collaboration.” in the Old Testament. Dr. Thomas Davis, director of CAARI will be The Fulbright grant also allowed for re- the first speaker for the Lynn H. Wood Archaeo- search in neighboring countries including Egypt logical Museum Lecture Series on December 1.  Development Excavation and Publication Endowment Established

he Institute of Archaeology is please to an- 1. Excavation Reports. Preliminary and final Tnounce The Burton and Dorothy Keppler reports of excavations sponsored by South- Endowment for Archaeological Excavation and ern Adventist University or other reports of Publication established with the following guide- existing excavations that are essential to the lines (excerpted from the endowment papers): understanding of the ancient Near East and its Archaeological fieldwork will be established relationship to the Bible. by Southern Adventist University in the Middle 2. Collected/Edited Volumes. Occasional sym- East for the purpose of enhancing the under- posia which focus on specific problem areas standing of the biblical world and the people, relating to archaeological interpretation and places, and events that shaped its history. The its relationship to biblical studies. Scholars endowment may be used specifically for purchas- from various specialties who are committed ing equipment and tools; renting vehicles or to Scripture may be invited to participate in machinery; arranging for necessary excavation symposia with the understanding that such specialists and staff; procuring necessary gov- symposia may have a broader and stronger ernment permits or concessions for excavation; influence than an individually authored study. processing and conservation of excavated mate- The endowment would be used for transporta- rial; and storage of excavated material pending tion costs, editing and publication costs, and further analysis. to ensure that the publication is produced in a Publication and dissemination of informa- timely manner. tion are the essential outcome of archaeologi- 3. Books and Articles. Research and publication cal excavation and research and must be care- costs for books and scientific articles in peer- fully planned in advance. The endowment has reviewed journals contributing directly to the been established to provide funding for quality integration of archaeology and biblical studies. archaeological publications. All publications The Institute of Archaeology expresses its receiving financial support from The Burton and gratitude to Dr. and Mrs. Keppler and others Dorothy Keppler Endowment for Archaeological who wish to contribute for their foresight in Excavation and Publication will indicate so in the establishing an endowment that will ensure the publication. These publications may specifically future success of archaeological research focused fit into three categories: on the ancient Near East.

Development Goals (Committed Funds)

200,000 Endowment Fund Goal: 1,000,000

34,000 Excavation Fund Goal: 200,000

10,000 Archive and Research Fund Goal: 60,000

Some of our friends may consider this to be excellent time for a special cash major gift. Recently, congress changed the charitable deduction rules. Cash gifts for any purpose given between August 28 and December 31, 2005, are deductible up to double the normal charitable level. Cash gifts for the rest of 2005 will be generally deductible up to your full income. For more information contact Carolyn Liers 423.236.2818 or Rob Raney 423.236.2781.  UPCOMING EVENTS

Annual Meetings November 16-19, Annual Meetings of the American Schools of Oriental Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Museum Lecture Series December 1, Ackerman Auditorium, Dr. Thomas W. Davis, Director of the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute, “The Rise and Fall of Biblical Archaeology: Towards a New Paradigm.” Illustrated Lecture.

Museum Lecture Series February 16, Ackerman Auditorium, Dr. Thomas G. Merry, Captain, USN. “My Experience as Military Commanding Officer Over Babylon and Ur in Modern Iraq.” Illustrated Lecture.

Museum Lecture Series March 16, Dr. Michael G. Hasel, Director of the Institute of Archaeology, Southern Adventist University,

“Hazor Excavating the ‘Head of All Those Kingdoms’. “ Illustrated Lecture.

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