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REL 226: Biblical Archaeology, Spring 2007. SYLLABUS RJDKnauth
Class MWF 10:15-11:20 am, B309. Office hours M/W 2:00-4:00 pm, T/Th 3:00-4:00 pm, D-320.

Email: knauth@lycoming.edu. Tel: 321-4298(GAYT), home: 326-3822. http://www.lycoming.edu/~knauth
Religion Tutors at ARC: Meghan Strong, Janet McGlade, Kent Hayden.

This course will introduce basic archaeological method and explore how archaeological findings can clarify and illustrate the meaning and historical background of Biblical texts.

             The course has three sections: 1) The Pre-Israelite Period (Neolithic to Late Bronze)
                                                            2) The Israelite Nation (the Iron Age)
                                                            3) Student Oral Presentations (using Power Point)
Textbooks:
            Amihai Mazar, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible
            Lawrence Stager, Ashkelon Discovered and “Archaeology of the Family” (on reserve)
            The Oxford Bible Atlas (mainly for biblical background)

Course Requirements:

1) Attendance and informed participation (readings having been completed) at all class sessions will be expected (worth 10% of the final grade). The attendance policy for this course is that there are no excused absences without a written note from a doctor or parent/guardian regarding a serious family or medical emergency (e.g. requiring hospitalization). Each set of 3 absences lowers your final grade 1%. Lectures will be liberally illustrated with slides and may diverge significantly from the textbook, so attendance is crucial.

2) Weekly Quizzes (10 total, worth 10% of the final grade) will be given at the beginning of class each Wednesday on the readings for that week.

3) Period Outlines (5 total, worth 10% of grade, due Wednesdays) on EB, MB, LB, Iron I, Iron II.
*Do your own work and keep a copy! Outline forms and samples for Neolithic & Chalcolithic periods provided.*

4) Short Exercises (5 total, worth 5% of grade, due Fridays) will also be completed during the first part of the course.

5) Tests on each of the first two sections (each worth 10% of the final grade) will be non-cumulative, covering mainly factual issues of methodology, historical background, and scholarly theories relevant to the material. Review sheets will be handed out in advance.

6) A Research Project and Team Presentation (worth 25% of the final grade) will be required on an archaeological site or topic. Topics will be chosen and signed up for in advance from the list at the end of this syllabus. Each team will give a 15 min. illustrated Power Point presentation, with a 1-pg summary handout for the class and a printout copy of the presentation. Each student must also turn in his or her own individual 6-pg write-up of the research upon which the presentation was based. A minimum of 6 non-internet sources must be used and cited properly. Unless you have been conducting your own excavations, every piece of information should have a specific citation attached to it, saying where you got the information.
The difference between plagiarism and proper research is only proper citation.
If you do not understand this, please come talk to me or any other faculty member.

7) A Final Exam (3 hours, worth 20% of the final grade), covering the entire course, will be given during exam period. This exam will consist of essay questions, for which there will be some choice, concerning broader themes and concepts from the entire course. It will be thematic and issue oriented. Review sheets, listing some of the main themes and issues of the course, will be handed out on the last day of class, and will be the basis for the final exam questions. Use the student reports, returned midterms, review sheet, period outlines and quizzes to review. In addition, students will be allowed to bring a 2-page “study-buddy” (based on the Period Outlines) into the final exam, to be handed in with the exam. These should contain a collection of facts, dates and data which you can use to flesh out your exam essays. However, you cannot write out your essay answers in advance on these sheets, and YOU MUST DO YOUR OWN WORK! This is to help you study for the exam, and pooling information will not help you as much as doing your own.

8) Extra Credit may be granted for watching archaeology-related documentary programs on the Discovery channel, Learning channel, History channel, etc. To get credit, the student must submit a 1-2 page summary (typed) of relevant archaeological or biblical points from the program, along with title of program, channel, and date and time watched.

Schedule of Classes:

Section 1: The Pre-Israelite Period

Week 1: Introduction, Methodology
  Read Mazar ch. 1, Atlas pp. 9-16, 20-24, 48, 54-55, 92-93, 98-119.
      Review “Useful Terms” handout.
M (Jan. 8)- Intro: Archeologist as detective: what is left? The building of a tell.
W (Jan. 10)- The Land of Israel. Overview of Biblical History.
F (Jan. 12)- Pottery Chronology. Read Cross From Epic to Canon ch. 12 (on Reserve).
      Exercise 1: Pottery Drawing (due Fri.).

Week 2: Pre-History: Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Early Bronze (8500-2000 BCE)
     Skim Mazar ch. 2-3 (along with provided Period Outlines), read Mazar ch. 4 (creating your own outline).
M (Jan. 15)- The Neolithic Revolution (8500-4300). Jericho.
W (Jan. 17)- Chalcolithic Innovations (4300-3300). Teleilat Ghassul, En Gedi.
     Exercise 2: Neolithic Arak (due Wed.).
F (Jan. 19)- Early Bronze – Emerging Cities, Writing (3300-2000). Arad. *Quiz 1.
*EB (Early Bronze) Period Outline due Friday (fill in provided form based on Mazar ch. 4;
use provided sample outlines for Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods as a model).

Week 3: Middle Bronze- Patriarchal Period, Canaanite City-States (2000-1550 BCE)
     Read Mazar ch. 5-6, Atlas p. 56.
M (Jan. 22)- EBIV/MBI Chaotic Interlude. Amorite people movements.
                        ANE Texts: Laws, Treaties, Mari letters, Nuzi parallels, Myths.
W (Jan. 24)- MB global politics, chronologies. Pottery, seals. Major sites. *Quiz 2. *MB PO due.
F (Jan.26)- Build-up of tells: rampart walls & glacis; chariots & siege warfare. Palaces & temples.
  Exercise 3: Repton Barrow, Harris Matrix (due Fri.).

Week 4: Late Bronze - Under Egyptian Domination (1550-1200 BCE)
     Read Mazar ch. 7, Atlas p. 58, 107-108.
M (Jan. 29)- Amarna Age, international trade and cosmopolitan culture.
                                    Egyptian and Canaanite religion (burials, temples and art).
W (Jan. 31)- Searching for the Exodus. Rameses, Hapiru, Hyksos. *Quiz 3. *LB PO due.
F (Feb. 2)- Major collapse; where does "history" begin? Invention of the alphabet.
                                    Wanderings - how to detect? Absence of Evidence...
      Exercise 4: Latreia (due Fri.).

Week 5: Review and Test for Pre-Israelite Period
Review Readings in Mazar ch. 1-7.
M (Feb. 5)- Review: History, Culture, Sources, Methodology. *Hand out Exam Review Sheets.
W (Feb. 7)- Review for Test: Archaeology Jeopardy I.
F (Feb. 9)- *Test 1* on Mazar ch. 1-7: Methodology, Pre-Israelite period.
Exercise 5: Archaeologist’s Puzzle (due Fri.).

Section 2: The Israelite Nation

Week 6: Iron Age I - The Tribal League (1200-1000 BCE) *Sign up for Research Topics!**
Read Mazar ch. 8, ch. 12 re Philistines; Atlas p. 60. **Sign-up on D-320 door.
M (Feb. 12)- Issues of conquest/settlement; major changes in settlement patterns.
W (Feb. 14)- Period of judges: unity/disunity. Ethnicity, “distinctiveness.” *Quiz 4. *Iron I PO due.
F (Feb. 16)- Sea peoples and the need for a monarchy.

Week 7: Iron IIA - The United Monarchy (1000-925 BCE)
Read Mazar ch. 9, ch. 12 re Phoenicia; Atlas pp. 18-19, 64, 66, 80.
M (Feb. 19)- Library Research Session - Meet in Library!
W (Feb. 21)- Golden Age of Israel- power vacuum. Iron Age History & Politics- overview.*Quiz 5.
F (Feb. 23)- Solomonic Temple, Jerusalem as Regal/Ritual City. *Fill out P.O. for I-2A.
Begin researching topic: find sources, define major issues, choose illustrations.

Spring Break Feb. 24 – March 4. Read for your research project! Map out presentation on paper!

Week 8: Iron IIB-C - Divided Monarchy: North (925-722 BCE)
Read Mazar ch. 10 up to pg. 416, ch. 12 re Assyria; Atlas pp. 22-30, 68-71.
M (Mar. 5)- Instructions for preparing Power Point Presentations (OCT staff), meet in Lab.
W (Mar. 7)- Dan, Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer, Shechem; gates, walls, houses, water, high places.*Quiz 6.
F (Mar. 9)- Samaria (capital); Phoenician Allies, competing ideology/iconography, Kuntillet Ajrud.
*No P.O. due. Work on Presentation. Scan pictures! Do research! Draft your write-up!

Week 9: Iron IIB-C - Divided Monarchy: South (925-586 BCE) - Assyrian Domination
Read Mazar ch. 10 from pg. 416 on, ch. 12 re Babylonia; Atlas pp. 72-75.
M (Mar. 12)- Assyrian Crisis: Syro-Ephraimite Coalition, Samaria’s fall to Assyria in 722 BCE.
W (Mar. 14)- Arad, Beersheba, Lachish and Jerusalem. *Quiz 7.
F (Mar. 16)- Sennacherib’s 701 BCE Invasion of Judah, Lachish LMLK jars. Slides of Assyria.
*No P.O. due. Work on Presentation. Prepare your PowerPoint! Fill in additional research!

Week 10: Stager’s “Archaeology of the Family” and Israelite Material Culture
Read Stager’s “Archaeology of the Family in Ancient Israel” (for Mon), Mazar ch. 11 (for Fri).
M (Mar. 19)- Terraces, Iron, Stables and Family life. *Quiz 8 on "Archaeology of Family."
W (Mar. 21)- Fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE, Babylonian Exile. Slides of Babylon.
F (Mar. 23)- Architecture, fortifications, religion, art, inscriptions, burials (small groups). *Quiz 9.
*No P.O. due. Work on Presentation. Prepare 1-pg handout. Work on 6-pg research project write-up.

Week 11: Persian Period and Beyond; Ashkelon Case Study. *Hand Out Review Sheet.
Read Stager’s Ashkelon Discovered. Review Mazar ch. 8-12. Read Atlas pp. 20-47, 76-90, 97.
M (Mar. 26)- Persian Period Restoration, 2nd Temple; Hellenistic Pd.
W (Mar. 28)- Ashkelon through time - a case study. *Quiz 10 on Ashkelon.
F (Mar. 30)- Review for Test on Mazar ch. 8-12. Archaeology Jeopardy II. *Iron II PO due.

Week 12: Review and Test, Roman Period.
Review Mazar ch. 8-12.
M (Apr. 2)- *Test 2* on Mazar ch. 8-12 (Israelite Period) + Stager.
W (Apr. 4)- New Testament (Roman) period (slides).
F (Apr. 6)- Good Friday – No Class.

Section 3: Student Team Presentations (15 minutes each, plus time for discussion)**
**Team Projects – joint 15-min presentation, with independent write-ups. Instructions below!

Week 13: Student Presentations on Site Case Studies: Major Finds and Problems

M (Apr. 9)- __________ 1. Gezer

__________ 2. Hazor

__________ 3. Megiddo

__________ 4. Shechem

W (Apr. 11)- __________ 5. Jerusalem

__________ 6. Samaria and Ramat Rahel

__________ 7. Tel Dan

F (Apr. 13)- __________ 8. Lachish

__________ 9. Arad (esp. EB/Iron II) and Beersheva

__________ 10. Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Week 14: Student Presentations on Thematic Topics. *Exam Review Sheet handed out.*

M (Apr. 16)- __________ 11. City gates & walls/fortifications, methods of siege warfare, defenses

__________ 12. Water systems (incl. irrigation for agriculture, etc.)

__________ 13. Houses/dwellings

W (Apr. 18)- __________ 14. Pottery

__________ 15. Jewelry, Art, Musical Instruments, Tools, Weapons (material culture)

__________ 16. Writing and Literacy, Inscriptions and Seals

F (Apr. 20)- __________ 17. Palaces

__________ 18. Temples (w/ Idols/icons, altars, other religious artifacts)

__________ 19. Graves/burial practices

Review for Final Exam

*Use Mazar (check index) and the Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East (in reference) to start, plus Stager’s Life in Biblical Israel & Levy’s Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land (on reserve).
Check the "DS" section in the library stacks, as well as checking for relevant articles in BAR, etc.
*Note: This is a research project. Unless you have been conducting your own excavations, every piece of information should have a specific citation attached to it, saying where you got the information.
*You must use a *minimum* of 6 non-internet sources, and you must cite them all properly.
*Turn in your 1-pg summary handout for the class a day ahead so that it may be copied for the class.
*Turn in your 6-pg Project Write-up and a hard-copy of your Presentation in class when you present.
*Unless there is a serious excuse such as a major illness (with a note from the doctor), family emergency (with a note from your parents), or other serious problem, late write-ups will be penalized at the discretion of the instructor.
*Submit your paper electronically at http://turnitin.com (class ID 1775895, enrollment password “ba07”).

A 3-hour Final Exam on the entire course will follow during Exam week (Apr. 23-27).
Don't forget to prepare your "study-buddies"!

Instructions for Electronic Reserves: Supplemental course readings have been placed on electronic reserve through Moodle, at http://moodle.lycoming.edu. Your username is your Novell login, with your regular Novell password.

Disability Accommodation: If you have a specific disability and wish to request academic accommodations to meet your needs, please consult with Mr. Dan Hartsock, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities. You may reach him by telephone at 321-4294, or stop by his office on the third floor of Snowden Library in the Academic Resource Center.

A Note on Workload: College courses require preparation – on average 2-3 hours of preparation for every hour in class. So plan on 8-9 hours of preparation time per week per course, not including class time. This is more than a full-time job! However, given the high amount you pay for your education, you will not get out of it what you deserve unless you put in the time and do the preparation.

A Note on Academic Dishonesty: Academic Dishonesty is a serious offense at Lycoming College and in this class. Academic Dishonesty includes failing to give credit to sources used (otherwise known as Plagiarism). This would include copying material from books, articles, web sites or another student’s work without citing your source, whether on a formal paper or a short assignment. You are allowed to discuss assignments together, but when it comes to writing out your answers, you must do your own work and use your own words. If you do not clearly understand what this means or what plagiarism is, please come and talk to me about it and I will be glad to explain.