Archaeology and History of Antiquity Concentration

The authors of the books of the Bible and their first audiences lived in ancient near eastern historical, social, and cultural contexts. Therefore, the biblical messages are richly illuminated by exploration of these background contexts and light that is shed on them by archaeological discoveries of material remains and texts in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions. This concentration equips students with knowledge and methodological tools to understand existing discoveries and to uncover additional relevant data through the study of archaeology and the history of antiquity that includes not only classwork and library research but also by participation in archaeological fieldwork and laboratory analysis of artifacts. The concentration covers time periods from the Stone Age through the Islamic periods and includes elements such as material culture, historical geography, biblical chronology, ethnography, and political and social dynamics through history.

This concentration requires 18 credits, in addition to the core requirements for the MA Religion (Specialized).