BARlines

Attendance at Biblical Archaeology Course Reveals Enthusiastic Public Interest

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the nation’s foremost museum complex, recently offered the general public a seven-lecture course entitled “Archaeology and the Old Testament World: A Vicarious Tour.” More than 250 people enrolled in the course. “This was one of the most popular courses this term,” said Smithsonian program coordinator, Paul Edelson. The Smithsonian offers scores of such courses.

Course Instructor Dewey M. Beegle, Professor of Old Testament at Wesley Theological Seminary, led his students on vicarious excavations of Shechem, Gezer and Heshbon, (digs in which Beegle himself participated) as well as Jericho, Bab edh-Dhra, Ebla and numerous other sites.

Beegle was surprised but delighted at the large turnout for his lectures. “So many people enrolling is evidence of a keen interest in archaeology among the lay public,” Beegle told BAR.

International Team Dates Ancient Manuscripts

An international team of codicologists is using techniques similar to those used by handwriting and fingerprint experts to check the ages of ancient Samaritan and Hebrew manuscripts in leading western libraries.

The team, based in Sydney, Australia, has been in operation for five years. Members include Dr. Alan Crown of the University of Sydney, Professor Colette Sirat of the Sorbonne, and Professor Bet-Arieh of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.