The public is invited to a free lecture at UNCC Center City by Shimon Gibson, visiting professor of archaeology. UNCC is involved in an archaeological dig at Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The program will take place Thursday, November 10th, 2016, at 7 p.m. Reservations are requested.
The sacred city of Jerusalem is a crossroads of religions, cultures and languages — a place where ultra-modern high tech meets the ancient walled city. UNC Charlotte is in the unique position to have an historic presence in the Old City as the only American university currently licensed to carry out excavations – at Mount Zion — in Jerusalem.

Shimon Gibson, visiting professor of archaeology in UNC Charlotte’s department of history and a Senior Fellow at the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem, will present a lecture on UNC Charlotte’s Mount Zion Archaeological Project at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at UNC Charlotte Center City. Gibson is co-director of the excavation along with James Tabor, Professor of Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity in the Department of Religious Studies.

The lecture, Digging Up Jerusalem, is open to the public without charge, but reservations are requested. Complimentary parking will be provided.

The UNC Charlotte excavation team recently discovered a rare gold coin bearing the image of the Roman Emperor Nero. Gibson will talk about the significance of the find, as well as other discoveries. He also will talk about the significance and the opportunity of the Mount Zion dig to UNC Charlotte students and to the greater Charlotte community.