Between Text and Artifact: Integrating Archaeology in Biblical Studies Teaching (Archaeology and Biblical Studies)

MCCANE:"HEREIAMATKIHlmETCANA" 203

ApI'ENOIX:SYLlAllUSOFTIlEFIELDSCHOOL:SEI'l'1l0lUSACROPOLISEXCAVAllON

COURSEDESCIUl'110N

TheFieldSchooloftheSepphorisAcropolisExcavationinacomprehen-

sivecourseinthearchaeologyandhistoryofSyro-Palestine.Throughdaily

participationin fieldexcavation,studentswillbecomeproficientinstan-

dard methods of fidd archaeology, including recovery, recording,

preservation,andinterpretationoffinds.Throughdailyattendanceatlec~

turesanddiscussions,studentswillbecomefamiliarwiththemajorperiods

inthehistoryofSyro-Palestine,includingcharacteristicfeaturesandevents

ineachperiod.ThroughweekendlOurs,studenlswillvisitimportantsites

fromeachoftheseperiods.ThegoaloftheFiddSchoolisforstudentsto

acquireproficiencyinfieldexcavation(sothattheywouldbeabletoserve

asanassistantareasupervisoronanexcavation)andfamiliaritywiththe

historyofSyro-Palestine(sothatIheycouldparticipateconslnJCtivelyin

historicalandarchaeologicalanalysesoftheregion).

COURSEREQUIREMENTS

Participationindailyexcavationactivitiesisrequired. ExcavationaClivities

beginwithdeparturetothesiteat4:30eachweekdaymorning.Eachstu-

dent will be assigned to an area of the excavation, where the area

supervisorwillWainthestudentinthemethodsoffieldexcavation.Field

excavationcontinuesuntil 1:00I'M. "Dailyexcavation activities" include

late-afternoon(4 00 pm)chores,i.e.,potterywash,bonewash,andartifact

registration. Attendance at evening lectures and discussions is also

required.Lecturesanddiscussionsconveneat7:00I'M,Monday-Thursday.

Readingswillbeassignedinadvance,andstudentsareexpectedtohave

readIheassignmentaheadoftime.Finally,pal1icipationinweekendtours

isrequired.TourswilldeparteachSaturdaymorningat8:30AMandwill

lastallday.Additionalwork(journalwriting,finalexamination,etc.)may

alsoberequiredbythestudent'sacademicinstitution.

TF,XmOOKS

EricM.Meyers,ed.GalileethroughtheCenturies.WinonaLake,Ind.:Eisen-
brauns,1999.
Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, The /-Ioly Land. Oxford: Oxford University
Press,1998.
InadditiOn,eachstudentwillalsoreceiveacopyoftheAreaSllperoisor's
Manua/.