Learning Objectives
A student completing this lesson should be able to:
  1. Discuss the concept of culture and cultural processes;
  2. Describe the nature of the archaeological record and describe the processes forming and changing the record;
  3. Distinguish between matrix, provenience, and archaeological data;
  4. Explain three-dimensional recording and its relation to the provenience of artifacts and features; and
  5. Describe the Wheeler–Kenyon and the Albright–Wright Methods and the prevailing approach as used in Levantine stratigraphic excavation.

Reading Assignment

TOPIC

 REQUIRED READING SUPPLEMENTAL READING

Topic 1 The Role of Archaeology in New Testament Studies

 McRay 17-19; Bibarch Overview  

Topic 2 The Limitations of Archaeology as Proof

 McRay 19-20  

Topic 3 Biblical Archaeology

 McRay 20-20  

Topic 4 The Technology of Excavation

 McRay 20-22; Bibarch The Record  

Topic 5 The Basic Method of Excavation

 McRay 22-34; Bibarch Earth Layers; Bibarch Dating Methods  

The above bibarch.com readings should be helpful in mastering the concepts in this lesson. When you reach the links be sure to read all the subtopics.

Viewing Assignment
The University is in process of arranging for a license to include selected videos relative to biblical archaeology. If this can be arranged in a timely fashion then a viewing assignment will be posted here.

 Forum Assignment (due January 28)

Complete your icebreaker assignment. For credit, you will need to post three comments consisting of your short autobiography and two comments on the autobiographies of other students. The purposes of this icebreaker assignment are for you to introduce yourself to your classmates, to verify your enrollment in this course, and to promote student interaction. The icebreaker assignment is due by the eighth day of the semester (Wednesday, January 28). Post your autobiography as a reply to the "Bios" topic on the course forum. You can earn 25 bonus points in this course by doing so “on time.” On this assignment there is no credit granted for postings made after January 28.

Words and Phrases

[?]archaeological culture[/?]

[?]bench marks[/?]

 [?]features[/?] [?]probe trench[/?]

[?]archaeological record[/?]

[?]ceramic topology[/?]

 [?]grid[/?] ?]provenance[/?]

[?]archaeological unit[/?]

[?]culture[/?]

 [?]layer[/?] [?]pottery reading[/?]
[?]artifact[/?] [[?]datum points[/?] [?]loci, locus[/?] [?]stratification[/?]

[?]balk[/?]

[?]ecofacts[/?]

 [?]matrix[/?] [?]stratigraphy[/?]

[?]balk reading[/?]

 [?]epigraphs[/?] [?]midden[/?] [?]structures[/?]
Exam 1 (due January 30)
This is a closed book multiple choice exam, with no time limit, worth 100 points.

Writing Assignment (due January 30)

In a cave near Bethany archaeologists found an ossuary dating from the first century C.E. bearing an inscription in Hebrew translated “Simon bar Jonah.” Would you identify this as St. Peter's final resting place? What are the issues? Discuss. Would it make any difference if the ossuary discovery occurred under St. Peter's in Rome?

This assignment is worth 50 points. Post your assignment using the Assignment Page on your course toolbar. Note that you can post a paper in Microsoft Word as an attachment. Some prefer to submit their papers in this manner to preserve the format.