Biblical Archeology Exhibit Opens in Tulsa

A hall of the Tulsa Convention Center looks more like a museum because it's been filled with antiques that date back to ancient times. All have a connection to Jewish and Christian history, through

Wednesday, January 10th 2007, 10:21 am

By: News On 6

A hall of the Tulsa Convention Center looks more like a museum because it's been filled with antiques that date back to ancient times. All have a connection to Jewish and Christian history, through Israel.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says for Cary Summers creating this exhibit was part of a personal mission to dig into the archeology of the Bible. "We've had people come through who've said I had no idea all that was in the Bible."

The exhibit - called From Abraham to Jesus - is a collection of artifacts that date to Biblical times. This is from Leviticus; it includes two pieces of the Dead Sea Scrolls - ancient original transcriptions of the Old Testament - and many items as examples of what's mentioned in the Bible. "These date back to King Hezakiah, which is Isaiah 22, that talks about King Hezakiah."

All of the elements, like some clay seals used to authenticate messages are from the collection of Hebrew University in Israel. Only a few pieces are replicas - most are original, some the only such item known.

An important item in the collection is what archeologists believe is a burial box with a direct connection to the crucifixion of Jesus. "This one is the burial box, the final burial box of Simon, who carried the cross for Jesus, first time outside of Israel, first time on display in fact."

Summers wanted to create a sort of traveling museum that would take visitors through some of the common history of Jews and Christians, with examples of the archeological proof of Biblical stories, like this brick that mentions the ancient city of Ur. "Nobody thought that Ur existed and that Abraham was a fictitious character until they found this brick and then they said hey there was a city of Ur."

This exhibit is at the Tulsa Convention Center through the end of February and at the door it cost $15 to get in, but cheaper $13 tickets are available online.