I have had the privilege to visit the Tell es-Safi excavation for two days this summer (July 12&14, 2016). Even better than the visit itself was the opportunity to interview a few archaeologists, each responsible for either this or other sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a Jewish Educator, it really interested me to learn about their perspectives on the importance of archaeology in general, and specifically towards Biblical studies. What we learn from archaeology? For the teachers among us – not limited to classroom teachers, but a parent, spouse or friend, planning a museum visit – what can we do differently, with this knowledge in hand? Even if we can\u2019t actually be on the site, ourselves?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I tell people that I\u2019m going to visit, say, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they often respond in wonder \u201cWhat is there to see in the Met, which has any<\/em> Biblical significance?\u201d Most of us just go straight to the overwhelming amount of art galleries, and perhaps walk through the Greek and Roman art, without contemplating the significance they might have to the encounter of Judaism with those cultures. Those statues are decorative, otherwise the hallway to the big pond with the coins would be boring. Perhaps if your kids are reading Percy Jackson (Rick Riordan\u2019s five-part series, 2005-2009), there might be something closer to home about Greek art. It amazes me that people don\u2019t realize the wealth the museum has to offer in terms of archaeology of the ancient world, that that there would be any Biblical significance there. I just found out, for example, that the Ancient Egyptian collection at the Met is the largest in the world, after Cairo (if what their plaque says is accurate). The few hours I\u2019ve spent there were not enough to even scratch the surface, and I can\u2019t wait to go again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I recommend checking out the other interviews from this experience, including: Prof. Aren Maeir, and Dr. Daniel Warrener<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Disclaimer: Some of the information about the professors is taken from Wikipedia, even if slightly modified)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dan Warner is the Director for The Michael and Sara Moskau Institute of Archaeology and the Center for Archaeological Research, professor of Old Testament and Archaeology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and is a co-director of the Tel Gezer Water System excavation and preservation project. He has also served various roles on other excavations at Tel Kabri, Megiddo, Tel El Farah, Gerar, and Ashkelon.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n http:\/\/www.nobts.edu\/ArchaeologyCenter\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n http:\/\/www.nobtsarchaeology.blogspot.com\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\nInterview with Professor Dan Warner<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n