Trip Back in Time--Explorations in Antiquity Center

• Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

This week we made a another quick road trip--this time to the Exploration in Antiquity Center, in located in LaGrange, Georgia. The center is an educational museum, founded by Dr James Fleming, a Biblical archaeologist. Through a combination of replicas, displays, and a number of different programs, the center is designed to help foster an understanding of life in Biblical times and places.

The garden is designed as a three-part display of the life of the shepherd, the life of the farmer, and the life of the village.

This a part of the representation of the life of a Bedouin shepherd--the tent itself is an actual handwoven tent made by a Bedouin woman for the center.

"she seeks flax and wool and works willingly with her hands"!

Pretty waterfall at the "oasis"


Reminds me of the woman at the well, Rachel watering the animals of Abraham's servants, or some of the many wells dug by the patriarchs.

A threshing floor with handmade implements

Beautifully built wine press from the life of the farmer area


Rocks added to the logs at the olive press


Another view of the olive press, shaded by a fig tree

Life in a village...

This was new this year--a grist mill turned by a waterwheel by water from an aqueduct.

All kinds of nooks and crannies built into the walls for storage

Doors to lower rooms, and view of the rooms on the rooftops

The seat for the elders or the judge

"her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land"

Every nook and cranny is used for living, for storage, for animals

Roof top trellis

How would like to keep your pantry stockpile here?

One of my favorite replicas--the tower of the watchman...

...and of course the best--the empty tomb

This is a combination eating/sleeping area...

..where you can participate in a Biblical meal--a combination passover and last supper...

..which includes 15 different authentic dishes. The meals require prior arrangements and parties of at least 10--although if you have a smaller group, they can "attach" you to another party if there's another group that has the room.

They even have programs for kids groups, where they learn to dig for artifacts. Wouldn't that be a great field trip for a Sunday School or vacation Bible school class?

This is no where near all that there is to see, but I didn't want to make a post that never ends! Besides the garden, there's a wonderful gift shop with lovely things that are imported from Israel, the dining rooms, and now a new artifact display and some additional areas that are under construction.

Although we've never participated in any of the formal programs, this was my third trip to the center. I always enjoy it, but it seemed especially interesting this time while I've been doing extra reading for the Bible in 90 Days program. If you live anywhere close to LaGrange, it's well worth the drive.

Until next time...