Join biblical scholar and archaeologist Nate Ramsayer as he leads audience members on a brief tour of the ancient Biblical lands.

What is it like to be an archaeologist? In what ways can we get information about people who lived in the past? How are objects and ruins excavated? Can archaeology be used to prove the Bible is true? What do scholars do when the Bible is at tension with what is found in the ground? Was the Exodus from Egypt a historical event? Come find out!

Archaeologists have been digging in Israel/Palestine and the surrounding areas for over 200 years, producing all kinds of fascinating remains from the past. Nate will discuss how sites are identified and excavated, the methods of dating archaeologists use, how ancient writing developed in Mesopotamia and the Levant, and examine some of the most important discoveries that link the modern land of Israel with the biblical stories.

Doors open at 6:45 for visitors to tour the museum.  A brief business meeting at 7:15 is followed by the talk at 7:30.  Free and open to the public.

About the Speaker:

Nate Ramsayer is a freelance biblical studies instructor. He holds an M.A. degree in Hebrew Bible and the ancient Near East from Brandeis University. He is also an active archaeologist who has excavated at seven sites around the world, focusing mainly in Israel during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Nate’s scholarly research interests include: biblical composition and manuscript history, ancient Near Eastern myths, and exploring points at which the archaeological record confirms or is at tension with the narrative found in the Bible. He has also worked extensively in the field of the Dead Sea Scrolls, presenting papers, giving lectures, working with museum exhibits, and even researching at the Qumran caves where the scrolls were found. Additionally, Nate is an accomplished professional singer in Boston, performing regularly with the BSO and Boston Pops, as well as being active in musical theater.