Free Lecture at the Deering Estate at Cutler ''The 2012 Field Season at Hazor, Israel: Archaeology and the Bible''
In partnership with the Archaeological Society of Southern Florida, the Deering Estate at Cutler presents a free lecture on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm, except for the February lecture which is scheduled for Friday, February 15th. Lectures are held in the Visitor Center Auditorium at the Deering Estate at Cutler located at 16701 SW 72 Avenue. The lectures are free and open to the public.
The Deering Estate at Cutler will also host its 2013 "Archaeology Day" on Saturday, March 16th. Activities and programs for the entire family will be held from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm including educational activities, expert lectures and walking tours of the historic Tekesta Trail.
Friday, February 15th at 7:00 pm
Topic: The 2012 Field Season at Hazor, Israel: Archaeology and the Bible
Presenter: Dr. Curtis McKinney
Visitor Center Auditorium
FREE & open to the public.
Hazor, a Canaanite site that dates before Israel and is mentioned in the Bible, was the site of the dig that Curtis McKinney Ph.D. revisited in the summer of 2012. Hazor, a literate society, based on cuneiform texts found on tablets, is actually on the site where seven cities were stacked upon each other. The crews' task was to excavate down through the layers of cities.
Each season at Hazor, a crew of archaeologists and volunteers, sponsored by the Hebrew University and the Israel Exploration Society, have been inching (actually centimetering which doesn't sound as good) closer to what they hope is the royal archives of cuneiform tablets which could contain eyewitness reports of the conquest of Israel by Joshua, Deborah, or someone else? This is one of the mysteries of the Bible which contains conflicting versions of the conquest of Israel. Finding the Archives could resolve the question on the origin of the Israelites: out of Egypt (Exodus) or home grown Canaanites (No Exodus).
In the summer of 2012, the crew continued work on an area associated with the Bronze Age. Dr. McKinney, currently an Associate Professor of Geology at Miami Dade College, plans to return to Hazor to continue with this project.
"In my area in the NE corner of area M, I found a hexagonal stone used for shaping bronze weapons. The square to the west produced an array of cooking pots and bowls of the late Bronze Age. The square to the south had burnt beams fallen from the ceiling over several large pots unexcavated. To my northwest, a room was found containing 13 pithos in place full of olives and grain," stated Curtis McKinney.
About the Deering Estate at Cutler
The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-Dade County Park, is located at 16701 SW 72 Avenue in Miami. This 444-acre natural and archeological preserve and historic site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a center for education, culture and recreation. Historic house tours are offered daily at 10:30 am & 3:00 pm. Natural areas tours are offered daily at 12:30 pm (October - May). EcoAdventure Tours are also offered throughout the year for an additional fee. For more information on the Deering Estate's educational and cultural programs, please visit www.deeringestate.org.
About the Archaeological Society of Southern Florida
The Archaeological Society of Southern Florida (ASSF) was established in 1949. The ASSF operates as a non-profit, volunteer organization which acts as a support mechanism for the office of the Miami-Dade County Archaeologist, serves as a focal point for local archaeology enthusiasts and professionals in the field, and helps to promote knowledge and appreciation of native archaeological and historical sites in the South Florida area.