|
These flawlessly detailed reproductions owe their authenticity to painstaking supervision by Dr. James Fleming, a member of the Advisory Board for Biblical Archaeological Review for more than 30 years and a lifelong guide and teacher of biblical archaeology. Among his academic endeavors, Dr. Fleming has served as professor of archaeology and biblical geography at the Ecumenical Institute for Advanced Theological Studies and has lectured at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem where, since 1973, he has lived and learned.
As you tour the life of the shepherd, the life of the farmer, and the life of the village exhibits, you will discover many secrets of ancient lands through the following biblical replicas, which are amazing in their authenticity:
- Desert Oasis:
- Limestone rocks and boulders recreate the rocky deserts of biblical times from which flow springs of water. A variety of imported desert plants add to the authenticity of the desert oasis.
- Temporary Sheepfold:
- To protect their sheep from predators at night, shepherds in the desert must build temporary sheepfolds from briars and thorns .
- Goat Hair Tent:
- Goat hair tents, the original mobile homes, remind us of the shepherds' nomadic life. Woven from brownish-black goat hair, this authentic tent was crafted for Explorations in Antiquity by a tribe in the Hashmonite Kingdom of Jordan.
- Well and Watering Troughs:
- Draw water from the well in a replica of a goatskin container used to fill water troughs.
- Sheepfold and Cave Stable:
- The stables and mangers are made from stone, just as they would have been in biblical times. Insulated by thick rock, the cave interior remains a pleasant 69°F year round, an ideal temperature for a swaddled newborn baby.
- Threshing Floor:
- In a land with uncertain rainfall, hopes and fears about provisions for the coming year focused on the threshing floor, where an ox or donkey pulled a threshing sled across the grain.
- Threshing Equipment:
- Leaning against the wall of the threshing floor is a threshing sled.
- Old and New Testament Tombs:
- These final resting places are historically accurate replications of tombs from biblical times. The Old Testament tomb includes a repository for bones, while the New Testament includes a rolling stone seal and a mourners’ bench. This chamber contains three benches on which the dead were laid for anointing, as well as bone boxes (known as ossuaries) for collecting the final remaining bones.
- Roman Crucifixion Trees:
- Milled lumber crosses are not representative of crosses in biblical times; these gnarly trees with crossbars and saddle supports are more authentic.
- Watchtower, Vineyard, and Roman Armor:
- From the vineyard watchtower, you may view the entire archaeological garden. Grape vines are planted as they were in ancient times—with a rock nearby on which to rest growing branches so their tips will not touch the earth. This keeps them from taking root and losing their connection with the mother vine.
- Grape Press and Storage Cellar:
- Two stone-lined basins hold grapes that are crushed by stamping feet. The juice flows to a collection vat; underground storage is provided for filled the wine jars.
- Canaanite and Israelite Altars:
- Canaanite altars were made from chiseled stones while the Israelite altars were built of natural stones, untouched by tools so that no one would be tempted to craft an idolatrous figure.
- Olive Trees, Olive Oil Press, and Display of Olive Oil Products:
- Learn the significance of the olive tree and watch as the olive press is operated by huge log beams with stone weights. See products such as oil for cooking and soap made from olive oil and lye.
- Seasonal Plants of the Bible:
- Some of the plants referred to in the Bible are displayed, including date palms, ficus, almond, and pomegranate trees.
- Fig Tree, Aqueduct, and Frame Press:
- Learn about the biblical significance of the fig tree and view the aqueduct, used in the Roman Period to keep water at the proper angle of descent in order to transport it to towns throughout the region. This model has the dimensions of a first century aqueduct discovered near Capernaum at the Sea of Galilee.
- Courtyard Inside the City Gate:
- Known as the “place of assembly,” it was here that the townspeople came together for the public reading of the law; courtyards like this were predecessors of the synagogue, which simply means “a place of assembly.”
- Waterwheel and Milling Area:
- Examples of individual and two-person hand-turned millstones are displayed, along with industrial-sized grinding stones.
- Four Room Israelite House:
- The typical four-room house common during the time of the Judges of ancient Israel featured the courtyard open to the sky; a place for animals, such as chickens and milk goats; a room for storage; and a living area for the family, who all shared this one room.
- City Gate Judgment Chambers:
- The gate was a symbol of justice and a place where the town judges sat while holding court.
- Stepped Theater:
- This replica of an ancient theater will mirror those used by Alexander the Great to propagate the values, traditions, and cultures of a people. This project will be constructed soon.
- Stable/Storehouse Building:
- The stone stable and storehouse just inside the city gate served as a place to unload animals and to store incoming and outgoing merchandise.
- Special Exhibits:
- Watch for special exhibits that Explorations in Antiquity will host.
- Kid's Dig Area:
- Here, children are invited to get their hands dirty—as well as the knees of their pants—as they dig through time to unearth archaeological “discoveries.”
Future plans for The Explorations in Antiquity Center call for constructing a relief map of Israel large enough to walk on, a football-field-sized Sea of Galilee-shaped pond, a parables of Jesus walk area, and a Roman village. |
