NEARTHED COLLEGE OF BIBLE & MINISTRY OPENS OF THE LINDA BYRD SMITH MUSEUM B-IBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY WORDS Preslry Nixon I I PHOTOS Evan Swearin,gen The Linda Byrd Smith Museum of Biblical Archaeology opened April 13, 2017, during Spring Sing weekend on Harding's campus. Dr. Dale Manor, professor of Bible and archaeology, supplied the majority of artifacts for the musewn. The initial preparations for the museum began years prior with display cases featuring some of Manor's artifacts in the Mclnteer Rotunda, according to Dr. Monte Cox, dean of the College of Bible and ministry. "He has a stash of artifacts," Cox said. "So of course not everything that he owns is on display there. We also took some artifacts from other collectors of ancient ear Eastern artifacts who also had had no place to display them, so they put them in the museum." According to Cox, planning for the museum began in 2005. They started by deciding to place the museum on the east wing of the first floor of the 1clnteer for the sake of visibility. Mike Steelman, designer of the Mclnteer building, and alumna Megan Valentine helped Manor with the design of the room. The museum was made possible because of Linda Byrd Smith's generosity. The Smith family graduated from Harding and had been significant benefactors of the university. After gaining funding, Manor had to decide what to display in the museum. According to Manor, the process of deciding which artifacts to showcase was a difficult one. "I wanted to put artifacts in there that told a contextual story," Manor said. Manor hoped through this museum students would be able to better understand what life was like in biblical times. While taking one of fanor's classes, senior Drew Ericson learned about the museum and the purpose behind the exhibit. "The items that are sometimes over 2,000 years old provide historical context that a textbook cannot and enable students to see authentic examples [covered] in class," Ericson said. Overall, the goal of the museum had to help put the Bible in historical terms, which could then help build faith. "One of the unique features of the Christian faith is that it's grounded in history," Cox said. "Here's a museum that helps illustrate that." Homecoming visitors gaze at the biblical artifacts inside the Linda Byrd Smith Museum of Biblical Archaeology in the Mcinteer Bible and World Missions building on Oct. 19, 2017. The majority of the artifacts were supplied by Or. Dale Manor, professor of Bible and archaeology, and remaining artifacts were supplied by other collectors . II Photo by Evan Swearingen A Homecoming visitor views one of the many artifacts displayed in the museum on Oct. 19, 201 7. Manor hoped the artifacts in this museum would show students and visitors what life was like during biblical times. II Photo by Evan Swearingen The museum is home to several replicated artifacts from the Roman Era like this ceramic storage jar from 100-70 AD. The museum had 10 sections that showcased items such as storage jars, perfume bottles, coins, weapons, wine skins and other artifacts from daily life in the ancient world. II Photo by Evan Swearingen Manor speaks during the museum's unveiling event on April 15, 2017.The museum opened to the public during Spring Sing weekend when visitors were able to see the artifacts for the first time. II Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery ~ OJ ' m 00 .....
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