You might never expect to find an excellent archaeological museum nearly hidden in the woods of eastern Tennessee. But that is what you will find at the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum on the campus of Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee.
When we arrived on campus we asked a student the location of the Museum. After walking up a long series of steps that some students were skipping up (ah, youth!), we asked two other students. Each of them offered to show us. And, neither had been to the Museum. Everyone on campus that we spoke with was friendly and helpful.
Inside Hackman Hall is housed a wonderful educational exhibit.
The Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum is located in this building.
A few years ago William G. Dever gave his research library of nearly 3000 volumes and a large collection of archaeological artifacts to Southern. The artifacts are built into an award-winning exhibition under the title Vessels in Time: A Journey Into the Biblical World. Archaeology Professor Dr. Michael G. Hasel serves as curator of the Museum.
Iron Age IIA (1000-900 B.C.) Pottery in the Lynn H. Wood Museum.
The exhibits follow a chronological order from the early days in Mesopotamia to New Testament times. Each display has a good timeline which coordinates the archaeological periods with the Biblical record. The photo above shows some pottery from the Iron Age IIA (1000-900 B.C.). This is the period of the United Kingdom (or Monarchy). The bowl on the left has been slipped and shinned. The accompanying information explains that during this period vessels were sometimes dipped “into red watery clay” to create the colored slip. The bowl was then hand burnished with a stone like the one shown above it.
Three examples of dipper juglets from the period are shown:
- A Phoenician import.
- A simple local juglet.
- A black-slipped, burnished juglet.
There is a nice model of Solomon’s Temple in the same room.
If your travels take you anywhere near Chattanooga, Tennessee, I suggest you take time to drive a few miles east to Collegedale and visit the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum.
Full information about the Museum including visiting hours may be found here.
Ferrell's Travel Blog 
Mark, I recall that you took me to the Horn Museum at Andrews University. Great trip.
Ferrell,
Seems like you find archeology museums wherever you go…and Adventist ones at that!
Hoping all is well with you and yours.
Mark Russell
Dear Ferrell,
Very interesting ..
Rubbed with a stone like ‘tadelakt’, thereby écrasser the colorant for clamping and sealing the pores within the bowl.
Aesthetic and practical.
Thank you for this article and the official museum.
Regards.
Thanks for the heads up to this “not-too-well-known” museum. Look very interesting! Time to put in on my “bucket list!”
Southern has been a partner with Hebrew University at the Khirbet Qeiyafa excavation for several years. Dr. Hasel and his family are enjoyable to know, along with the students they brought to the dig. I’ll make a point to visit that museum in the near future.