The Center for Near Eastern Archaeology

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The Center for Near Eastern Archaeology

Lawrence T. Geraty and Douglas R. Clark
Center for Near Eastern Archaeology
at La Sierra University

The Center for Near Eastern Archaeology at La Sierra University engages and collaborates with local and global communities to foster interest in and develop appreciation for the cultures of the ancient Near East. Accordingly, the Center sponsors excavations in Jordan, and responsibly conserves and displays its artifacts from the Near East in a manner mutually respectful and beneficial to both the

communities from which the artifacts came and the community in which they now reside. As part of an academic institution, it provides educational resources and research opportunities for students, scholars, and the public. By promoting awareness of the past, especially the biblical past, the Center helps construct a better future for religious and secular communities alike.

06/01/2026

Here are some science-backed tips for making the most of your study sessions this dead week:

1. Hand-write your notes (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-writing-by-hand-is-better-for-memory-and-learning/)

2. Study in 25-minute session with short, active breaks in between (https://www.todoist.com/productivity-methods/pomodoro-technique)

3. Teach the material to others (https://effectiviology.com/protege-effect-learn-by-teaching/)

4. Use flashcards to quiz yourself (https://www.herzing.edu/blog/do-flashcards-work-college-students)

5. Take active breaks - remember #2? (https://www.pocketprep.com/posts/the-science-of-study-breaks-boost-learning-without-burning-out/)

Utilizing these techniques can help prevent study burn out and will make the most of your study time this week, preparing you to ace your final exams next week! You've got this!

La Sierra University

05/19/2026

Your Fall 2026 era starts here. 🏛️

Explore "Great Discoveries in Archaeology," dig into "Archaeology of the Old Testament," or uncover biblical roots in "Hebrew I." Registration is officially open - secure your seat in the portal today!

La Sierra University

05/16/2026

"Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house." 1 Peter 2:5a (NRSV)

Domestic architecture, built up with large stones - oftentimes including reused stones from former architecture or large installation pieces such as grinders and door hinges - and situated in communal layouts with courtyards and multigenerational living quarters, reminds us that daily life shaped ancient communities as much as if not more than ritual spaces or other, more monumental parts of local societies. These structures tell the true stories of what life was like in the ancient world and give insight into familial structures, personal worship, and private enterprise.

Photogrammetric capture by Dr. Kent Bramlett of part of the house structure being excavated at Khirbat al-Balu`a via the Balu`a Regional Archaeological Project (BRAP). To learn more about BRAP and follow along with updates on their upcoming excavation season, visit www.brapjordan.org or follow Balu'a Regional Archaeology Project on Facebook.

Happy Sabbath from CNEA!

La Sierra University

05/12/2026

🚨 JUST PUBLISHED 🚨

The latest MPP volume, 𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 - ʿ𝘜𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘳𝘪 11: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 2008 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭-ʿ𝘜𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘳𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 (edited by L G Herr, D R Clark, L T Geraty, and M D Roddy), is now published and available for purchase at eisenbrauns.org! Make sure your library gets their copy today, or order one for your own personal library!

La Sierra University Eisenbrauns

05/07/2026

UCLA student, Jake Hill, learns from Dr. Kent Bramlett about pottery from Khirbat al-Balu`a. The collaboration is part of Jake's ongoing graduate research as he continues to work toward his PhD in archaeology.

Did you know that La Sierra's Center for Near Eastern Archaeology has the largest collection of archaeological research materials from Jordan outside of the country of Jordan? Boasting tens of thousands of artifacts of varying materials over thousands of years, La Sierra is both a great place to pursue a Master's degree in Near Eastern Archaeology and to collaborate on PhD, post-doc, and scholarly-level research initiatives! To learn more about CNEA, visit lasierra.edu/cnea or email us at [email protected].

La Sierra University

05/04/2026

It's the moment we've all been waiting for...

𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 - ʿ𝘜𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘳𝘪 11: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 2008 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭-ʿ𝘜𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘳𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 will be released on May 12!
Pre-order your copy today at https://www.eisenbrauns.org/books/titles/978-1-64602-380-6.html (you can also use the QR code from the video) and use discount code "NR26" for 30% off.

"This volume presents the official report of the 2008 excavation season at Tall al-ʿUmayri, a key settlement for understanding the Bronze and Iron Ages in western Jordan. Part of the long-running Madaba Plains Project, it documents the discoveries, methods, and personnel of that summer’s fieldwork while situating them within the project’s broader aim of tracing cycles of growth, decline, and adaptation in ancient settlement and land use." (eisenbrauns.org)

La Sierra University Walla Walla University Eisenbrauns

04/30/2026

CNEA's 2026 Alumni Homecoming Weekend presentation is now available! Head on over to our YouTube channel (youtube.com/) to watch it as well as many of our previous events!

Be sure to like, subscribe, and get notified when future videos drop.

La Sierra University

04/28/2026

These fabulous photos of CNEA's Homecoming event are courtesy of La Sierra University's Director of Public Relations, Darla Martin Tucker.

Thank you once again to everyone who attended either in-person or online. And please stay tuned for the recording coming later this week.

Photos:
1. In-person attendees enjoyed the presentations from inside CNEA's Collections Lab, surrounded by ancient artifacts, some dating back 6,000+ years.
2-3. Master's student Sarah Watson presents her research and findings related to one of the cylinder seals from the Cohen Family Collection.
4-6. Master's student Ryan McKee presents his research and findings related to one of the cylinder seals from the Cohen Family Collection.
7. Dr. Kent Bramlett presents on the history and function of cylinder seals from antiquity as well as taking a look at a few different seals from the Cohen Family Collection.
8-9. Douglas and Carmen Clark were the honored recipients of this year's annual Archaeology Award, "in recognition for years of visioning, directing, and generous support for the archaeology program at La Sierra University."
10. This year's program was dedicated to the memory Dr. H. Harvey Cohen, a dear friend of the center, mentor of students, archaeology enthusiast, and deeply-devoted family man - Zikhrono livrakha.

La Sierra University

04/24/2026

An alternate view of the beautiful and intriguing cylinder seal from the Cohen Family Collection that was a main focus of our Homecoming program on 18 April 2026.

Visible white lines of the microcrystalline fractures from engraving reveal the intricate designs on this small specimen. Bright blue lapis lazuli was associated with the rich or ruling classes in antiquity and was a prized commodity traded throughout the Near East. But according to research from our faculty and students, the inscription remains a mystery. Revealing possible elements of Akkadian or Elamite script, the layout of the wedges still do not seem to provide a coherent inscription. Was this seal recut? Was the scribe illiterate? The iconography poses many unanswered questions, too.

Stay tuned for the recorded lecture coming next week.

(3D scan and video courtesy of Dr. Kent Bramlett.)

La Sierra University

04/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our annual Homecoming event in-person or online! If you missed it, keep an eye out for the recording coming soon.

This year’s presentation titled “Rolled on Clay: Mesopotamian Cylinder Seals in the Cohen Family Collection at CNEA” was given by Dr. Kent Bramlett and MA students Sarah Watson and Ryan McKee.

The event was part 4 of the series “A Thousand Windows into the Past” which is examining the nearly 1,000 fine artifacts in the Cohen Family Collection. This event was also dedicated to the memory of Dr. H. Harvey Cohen who passed away earlier this year - may his memory be a blessing.

Our annual Archaeology Award this year was presented to Douglas & Carmen Clark, “In recognition of years of visioning, directing, and generous support for the archaeology center at La Sierra University.” Congratulations, Doug and Carmen!

Artifact displays included newly donated pieces from the Audrey Shaffer Collection as well as many fine pieces from the Cohen Family Collection, Michael Blaine Collection, and the Biblical Life Collection at CNEA.

Photos courtesy of Raúl Zanatta

.alumni

Address

4500 Riverwalk Parkway
Riverside, CA
92505

Telephone

(951) 785-2632

Website

http://lasierra.edu/cnea/

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