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

Samford 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.

Samford religion professor James R. Strange and his Kinneret colleague Mordechai Aviam lead the archaeological excavation of the ancient village of Shikhin, in which many Samford 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.

Samford 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.

 
Samford 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, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 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. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.