2018-2019 Faculty Research Grants

Randall Younker (Archaeology)

Museum Exhibit on the Origins of Christianity in Western Sicily

The goal of this research project is to create a museum exhibit at the municipal archaeology, culture and history museum in Salemi (Sicily) featuring the results of the archaeology excavations conducted by Andrews University between 2014 and 2018 at the Late Roman/Early Christian site of San Miceli (located within the township of Salemi). The exhibit will include nearly 90 artifacts from the excavations of the basilica, necropolis, adjacent buildings and a villa. The artifacts include pottery, jewelry, buckles, clasps, coins, weapons, tools, architectural remains, etc.). The exhibit will also include some 15 full color explanatory posters containing pictures and texts (in English and Italian) that will describe the history of the excavations as well as the history of the site and its remains. The topics will include the arrival and spread of Christianity in Sicily (from the time of Paul), the establishment of Christianity in western Sicily and San Miceli, the material culture of the early Christians, the role of women in early Christianity, the religious rituals of the early Christians (baptism, burials, theological beliefs [based on inscriptions and iconography] etc.) and the history of the Christians at this site until the final destruction of the site at the beginning of the 6th century (based on the archaeological phases (construction, destructions, rebuilding) in light of ancient sources. It is hoped that the exhibit will then be shown elsewhere (e.g. Palermo).