Published on July 20, 2016 by Sean Flynt  
The Shikhin archaeological site (photo by Ilanluz)
The Shikhin archaeological site (photo by Ilanluz)

¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ is collaborating with Kinneret Academic College to host research symposia on Galilean Archaeology: Research, Education, and Religion at the Kinneret campus on the Sea of Galilee July 24–25 this year and again in December 2017.

¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ religion professor James R. Strange and his Kinneret colleague Mordechai Aviam lead the archaeological excavation of the ancient village of Shikhin, in which many ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ students have participated. Shikhin — just north of the ancient city of Sepphoris — was a community of potters during the Roman period of 37 BCE to 363 CE, and the site is one of only two known sites for ceramic lamp production during the period.

¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ religion professor emerita Penny L. Marler participated in the 2015 excavation season at Shikhin, and became so interested in the work that she and Strange have collaborated on a paper, “The American Archaeological Field School in Galilee: Pedagogical Goals, Educational Outcomes and Participant Impact,”that Strange will present at the July symposium.

 
¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.