In a modern society, people tend to assume that all traces of the past have already been tucked away in museums. But when 41 麻豆传媒 students roamed the Middle East during the Bible Lands Study Tour this past summer, two participants uncovered a piece of history.
Toward the end of the group鈥檚 nearly-four-week trip, seniors Sara Bumgardner and Sarah Thompson found two fifth-century coins in the ancient town of Laodicea, part of present-day Turkey.
Bumgardner, a sociology major, made the first discovery while examining a piece of pottery on the ground. 鈥淎fter I found the coin, I think a number of us spent more time looking down at the ground than up at the excavated ruins of Laodicea,鈥� Bumgardner said.
And that鈥檚 when Thompson, a health science major, spotted a second coin. 鈥淚 saw a very small but very round object and I picked it up,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t just looked like a round gray pebble.鈥� The tour guide confirmed that both were authentic Byzantine coins.
In 2002, the Denizli Museum revived archaeology efforts in Laodicea, removing several layers of dirt and unearthing new artifacts. Bumgardner鈥檚 and Thompson鈥檚 discoveries were added to the collection of items found on site, each offering insight into the lives of the ancient city dwellers. 鈥淚 was a little bummed to have to part with [the coin] so soon after finding it,鈥� Thompson said, 鈥渂ut I knew that it would probably be of more use 鈥� if it was in the hands of the archaeologists.鈥�
Carl Cosaert, professor of biblical studies and coordinator of the tour, was satisfied with the way the trip wrapped up. 鈥淲e had talked about finding coins during the tour, but didn鈥檛 think we would actually find anything,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was great to find them at the end.鈥�
鈥淭he trip felt like one huge amazing adventure,鈥� Bumgardner recalled. 鈥淗owever, finding a Byzantine coin was definitely one of my favorite parts.鈥�
The Bible Lands Study Tour occurs every two years and provides participants with eight religion credits. Sign-ups for the next tour will open in May, and students interested in history, travel, or religion are encouraged to register.
Posted Nov. 10, 2017
