Biblical Archaeology - Fall 2009
Starts August 24 and Final Dec. 18 (9 to 11 am)
10:00 to 10:50 AM on MWF
Meramec in Communications South - 211
Dr. Michael Fuller - Professor of Anthropology
Office - Social Science Rm. SO 219 at Meramec
Office Phone: (314) 984-7987
Website:
http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller
Notes for this class will be posted at:
https://blackboard.stlcc.edu
Your USER ID is your 9-digit Student ID number with no dashes.
Your initial password is the same as your 6-digit birthdate in MMDDYY format.
Forgot you PIN? Go to
http://stlcc.edu/sct-erp/
for information on resetting your
PIN or contact the admissions office at your campus. After logging in, students
should click on the appropriate course link. NOTE: PIN (Blackboard password)
modifications will not take effect in Blackboard until the following day.
Email address:
MFuller@stlcc.edu
Office Hours: MWF 11 to 12; T 10 to 2
Purpose of the Course:
Archaeological discoveries and their relationship to the historical, cultural and religious
traditions of the Old Testament. Included will be a discussion of Sodom and Gomorrah, Exodus,
Conquest, Captivity, etc.
Your teacher is a professional anthropological archaeologist with extensive
experience in the USA, Egypt, Jordan, Greece, and Syria. If you wish,
it could be your first step in becoming an archaeologist OR the preparation
for a lifelong interest in the scientific study of the past.
Required Textbook
Matthews, Victor
2006 Manners & Customs In The Bible. 3rd edition
ISBN 978-1-59856-059-6
Objectives:
1. Understand the techniques used by modern archaeologists exploring sites with connections to the Biblical tradition.
2. Examine the history of surveys and excavations at sites related to the Biblical tradition.
3. Review the "type" artifacts (stone tools, pottery, glass, etc.) associated with each of the major time periods in the Levant.
4. Examine the controversial topics where scholars see different interpretations to the archaeological data or the Biblical text.
5. Review the evidence for political and religious institutions among the Canaanites and Israelites.
Course Requirements:
1. Everyone is required to take three graded examinations.
Two examinations will be given during the semester,
while the third will be counted as the final.
The last examination will not be comprehensive.
Examinations will consist of multiple-choice questions.
The three examinations will count for 75% of your grade.
What if you miss an examination? Make-up examinations
will only be given on the day that you take the final
examination. Please be aware that make-up examinations
will always consist of three essay questions
(no multiple-choice questions.
2. You will be required to write a research paper based
upon "solid" research. The topics of the Shroud of Turin
or Noah's Ark are of limits for reasons that I will explain.
Your written paper is due on the first class meeting in
December. Yes, you can email your paper as an attachment. Practice
doing this first with a friend, eh?
How do you pick a topic? Don't worry.
I will assign you a single book to read and use as
the basis of your term paper topic.
You can petition me for a different
book or specific topic, but the deal a book plan is
the easiest way for you to get right into the research.
3. You attendance is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, but I do not penalize you
for being absent. You will discover that each absence is a severe
handicap in terms of answering the questions on my examinations!
4. Make a friend in the class who you can telephone and
study with during the week before the examination.
5. The ACCESS OFFICE - disAbility Support Services has been designated by the college
as the primary office to guide, counsel and assist students with disabilities.
If you receive services through the ACCESS OFFICE and require accommodations for this
class, make an appointment to see me as soon as possible to discuss you approved
accommodation needs. Email me if you have an Instructor Notification Memo provided
by the ACCESS OFFICE to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with
me in strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise.
6. An Honors Contract can be developed for this class if your GPA is 3.5 or higher.
Please contact the Honors Coordinator for more information.
Go to http://www.stlcc.edu/mc/dept/honors/index.htm for more information.
7. Email me if your are having problems with the course.
8. I very, very, very rarely give Incomplete grades at the end of the semester. Keep track of
your grades and ask me before doing anything rash about dropping the class. Check this website:
http://www.stlcc.edu/calendars/
to determine the last date to drop a class during our semester.
9. HOSE ME DOWN AND I WILL FAIL YOU. Translation: you will be given a failing grade
if you cheat on an assignment, cheat on a test, cheat on the paper, or hack into any
of the computer system. Yes, I can detect a paper copied
directly off a website or church history book... and I will not be merciful!
10. TOUCH THE TEST AND YOU CAN'T HAND IT BACK! Can you believe that I have to say this?
If you are not prepared, then do not sit in the chair on test day! If your hand touches the test,
then the clock is running. You have 50 minutes to take the examination. Hand it back
without answers and it will be easy to grade. No retakes after your fingers have touched
an examination. I don't care if you High School allowed you to faint and hand it back.
This Is College.
11. How long do you wait until leaving the classroom if the teacher is late?
Wait all hour until instructed to leave by a secretary or another teacher.
Discuss the textbook questions with the other students until Professor Fuller arrives.
12. Put your cell phone on vibrate, please, or risk my ridicule.
Extra credit is available, but do not
expect to be able to earn more than 10 points on top of the
possible 100 points available during the semester.
The easiest method to acquire extra credit is to
attend one of the lectures on archaeology given
during the semester at the St. Louis Chapter
of the Archaeological Institute of America.
http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/aia/
CAN I DIG UP ALEXANDER THE GREAT?? Yes!!! Professor Fuller had taught field methods
class in St. Louis County, TransJordan, and Syria. Now, even better, SLCC field school in
the Republic of Macedonia along the Vardar River. Yes, you can come to the homeland of Alexander
the Great and dig.
http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/macedonia
Aliases of your teacher:
Michael Fuller - The name his parents gave him
Dr. Michael Fuller - The name that gets extra respect
Professor Michael Fuller - How the college thinks of him
Lord Michael de Safita - deadly Medieval crossbowman
Moodeer Fuller - Arab villagers in Syria call him this as he searches for lost secrets
Daddy - Amira Fuller calls me this (alas, my daughter's career path is piracy)
Neathery's husband - wife's students call him. She also teaches rt and web classes.
Madman - common nickname around Instructional Resources
I always dress in Academic robes while grading your homework,
I NEVER SLEEP and yes,
I am watching you to make sure that you don't cheat!