Annual Collins Lecture Returns with Dr. Rachel Hallote

The annual Collins Lecture is returning this year with another interesting topic and an even more interesting speaker. Part of the 2023 CHESS Speaker Series, the lecture is titled “Divergent Voices: Politics and Archaeology in Israel,” and it will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 12 in Gannon University’s Waldron Campus Center, Room 219.

Dr. Rachel Hallote, professor of history at SUNY Purchase in Westchester, NY, joins us as our speaker. Her talk explores how archaeology is abused and misinterpreted to justify modern political agendas, particularly in Jerusalem and at Masada. 

In addition to being a professor of history, Hallote is an author and archaeologist. She has worked at numerous sites in Israel, including Megiddo. She is particularly interested in the history of archaeology during the last two centuries, which is reflected in her book, The Forgotten Story of Early American Biblical Archaeology. She also co-hosts an archaeology podcast called This Week in the Ancient Near East.  

"I am thrilled that Dr. Hallote is coming to Gannon to speak about such a topic of great concern to archaeologists around the globe: the use and abuse of archaeology for political motives, in the present case, in the biblical lands,” said Suzanne Richard, director for the Collins Institute for Archaeological Research and professor at Gannon University. “I applaud Rachel for ‘speaking out’ about this matter."        

This lecture is co-sponsored by the Collins Institute for Archaeological Research and the School of Public Service and Global Affairs. It is free and open to the public.