Coming to Louisa Thursday Sept. 29
A museum exhibit of biblical proportions will be coming soon to our Appalachian region. The University of Pikeville will host “Khirbet el-Maqatir – A Journey through Biblical History” beginning in January 2017. The exhibit will feature approximately 250 artifacts from ancient Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Syria. In preparation for the coming exhibit the archaeology partners have already sent a preview collection of Biblical era artifacts to the region. The preview collection of artifacts will visit Louisa and be on display at the Sullivan University – Center for Learning on Thursday evening, September 29th from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The exhibit director for UPIKE, Tommy Chamberlin, will conduct a presentation about the artifacts and how they illuminate the Biblical record from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The presentation is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. The exhibit is being offered free of charge but the Universities ask that individuals and church groups consider making a donation to help in the expense of bringing the large Biblical archaeology exhibit to eastern Kentucky.
“It’s exciting to be working on a project that one would only expect to see in a large metro area,” said Tommy Chamberlin, exhibit director and president of the University of Pikeville’s Alumni Association. “We are proud to bring artifacts from the ancient world of the Bible to Appalachia. This will be the first time people from our region will be able to see a museum exhibit of this nature in their home community.”
A significant number of artifacts will come from the large archaeological excavation in Israel at the site of Khirbet el-Maqatir. Archaeologists believe evidence indicates the site is the biblical fortress of Ai mentioned in the book of Joshua. It is also likely that the site was named Ephraim in the Roman era and was a location visited by Jesus and his disciples.
Once the artifacts from Khirbet el-Maqatir are returned to Israel it is unlikely to ever return to the United States, according to Chamberlin. Artifacts in the exhibit are from various sites throughout the biblical ages, including pottery vessels from 3000 B.C. to the time of Christ, Old Testament-era idols, ancient slingstones, ancient weapons, rare coins from the time of the New Testament, cuneiform tablets from ancient Babylon and an Egyptian scarab that was voted the number one biblical archaeology discovery of 2013.
“This world-class exhibit is made possible in Eastern Kentucky because of our archaeology partners,” said Chamberlin, expressing appreciation for the Associates of Biblical Research who supervise the excavation at Khirbet el-Maqatir in Israel. The artifacts are the property of the Israeli government and are on loan to Pikeville with the permission of the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria. The artifacts from Khirbet el-Maqatir are already in the United States and have been featured in exhibits in major cities in Texas, Tennessee and Alabama. Once the exhibit opens in Pikeville, Chamberlin said it would be expanded thanks to involvement of other partners – the Horn Archaeological Museum of Berrien Springs, Mich and the David Dorsey Museum of Biblical Archaeology. The museums will contribute pottery, weapons, coins and other ancient artifacts from all biblical periods.
In preparation for this main exhibit, UPIKE has been conducting preview presentations across eastern Kentucky, southwest Virginia and West Virginia. The presentation at Louisa on the 29th will feature about 40 Biblical era artifacts. Some examples of items on display will be cuneiform tablets from the time of Abraham and Daniel, an ancient oil lamp display from 2,000 BC down to the time of Jesus, a fertility idol from the time of the Biblical patriarchs, a seal impression from the time of King Hezekiah of Judah, various artifacts from the time of the New Testament and an assortment of other artifacts from throughout the Biblical period.
When asked about the exhibit, Catrina Vargo, Sullivan University’sAssociate Director for Community Outreach & Admissions stated “We are so excited to be able to bring this special event that showcases such a sacred time in history to our community. I know people in Lawrence County and the surrounding area will certainly appreciate this unique, historical program,”
There is no charge to attend the presentation but donations are appreciated and will used to help create the larger exhibit of 2017. Chamberlin hopes that businesses, church groups and individuals across the region will help with donations and sponsorships so that the exhibit can be created in a world class fashion akin to one in a major metro area. Also, attendees will have the opportunity to obtain an authentic pottery sherd from the site of Khirbet el-Maqatir in Israel for a donation to the project – some dating to the time of Joshua and the conquest and some to the time of the New Testament.
“From the beginning, we saw this exhibit as something beyond just a project for the university,” said Chamberlin. “This is a special event for Eastern Kentucky and our wider Appalachian region. We’re working hard to make this community event happen in a world-class way and we need the support of the community to see that happen.”
To contact the exhibit director about business sponsorships, donations or booking a presentation of the preview collection of rare ancient artifacts, inquire at exhibit@upike.edu or call at 606-422-5952. To learn more about the exhibit, related events and sponsorship opportunities visit www.upike.edu/exhibit.
