Bible Lands Museum

Biblical Archaeology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Archaeology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary goes back to 1908, when the Reverend M. G. Kyle became lecturer in Biblical archaeology-the first at a Protestant seminary. During the 20th century, the work expanded to include excavation, publication, a museum, and public programming. Kyle was followed in archaeological work for PTS by James L. Kelso (1930-1963), Paul Lapp (1968-1970), Nancy Lapp (1970-2000), and Ron Tappy (1997-present).

Excavations sponsored by PTS at four sites form the core of a collection that spans thousands of years:

• BAB EDH DHRA on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, site of an Early Bronze Age city and cemeteries
• TELL BEIT MIRSIM in the southwestern  foothills, a succession of cities of the Bronze and Iron Ages.
• BETHEL on the border of ancient Israel and Judah, a site inhabited from Chalcolithic through Roman times.
• TULUL EL ALAYIQ near Jericho, a palace complex built in Hellenistic times and later renovated by Herod the Great.

PTS archaeologists have also worked at sites such as Nitla, Tell el Ful, Ashdod, and Wadi el Daliyeh. These efforts contributed to a growing understanding of the world of the Bible, and they brought thousands of artifacts to the Seminary for study.

The Seminary's commitment to archaeology continues with the work of Ron Tappy, who is currently excavating at Tel Zayit (Arabic Zeitah) in the Shephelah, or "foothills," an hour southwest of Jerusalem.

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