Chicago-area students will be able to get a hands-on archaeological experience when a new simulated dig opens in November at the Oriental Institute, 1155 East 58th Street.
The Kipper Family Archaeology Discovery Center, which will have its grand opening November 17, will allow school groups to recover archaeological replicas buried in an artificial ancient mound, or "tel," which replicates the Middle Eastern mounds where Oriental Institute archaeologists dig.
"Giving school children the opportunity for hands-on excavation is fundamental to the mission and the future of the Oriental Institute," said Gil Stein, Director of the Oriental Institute. "It will give visitors a more direct experience with archaeological discovery, not only significantly enhancing what they learn, but also giving them a strong personal connection with archaeology and with the ancient Near East."
The artificial site was constructed at the Oriental Institute using a collapsible metal frame and fiberglass. "We used a concoction of sand, gravel and epoxy to create a pebbly, solid surface upon which students can climb," said Erik Lindahl, Museum Preparator, who oversaw the project.
The Discovery Center is aimed at sixth-graders, who make up most of the school groups visiting the museum, and will have an emphasis on serving teachers and students in metropolitan-area schools. In the future the Center can become a springboard for a wide variety of programs and services that will serve families, youth, educators and special-needs audiences throughout Chicago and beyond.
"In the Kipper Center, visitors will use real tools to excavate trenches based on Oriental Institute excavations at Megiddo. They will find reproductions of artifacts, including oil lamps, jewelry, pottery sherds, and human and animal figurines," said Geoff Emberling, Museum Director at the Oriental Institute. "They can then explore how archaeological finds literally make history, and take part in group discussions about the significance of these artifacts."
To prepare a program for the students, Carole Krucoff, Head of Public and Museum Education, worked with students from the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences assembled by Morris Fred, an instructor in the program and former Director of the Spertus Museum. The team also consulted Susan Bass Marcus, educator emerita at the Spertus Museum and former curator of the ARTiFACT Center.
The team also worked with Wendy Ennes, Teacher services and E-Learning Coordinator and Jessica Caracci, Museum Education Assistant, to develop materials, including a comic book-style guide for teachers, field notebooks and trench cards.
The new center, located in the LaSalle Banks Room, builds upon the acclaimed work of the Rosenbaum ARTiFACT Center at the Spertus Museum which was not reinstalled when the museum moved in 2008 into a new location in the Loop.
The Center is named for Chicagoans David and Barbara Levy Kipper. David Kipper is a clinical psychologist who served as an adjunct faculty member and Senior Research Associate in the School of Social Service Administration. He currently teaches at Roosevelt University. Barbara Levy Kipper is former chair of the Spertus Board of Trustees.
The Kipper Family Archaeology Discovery Center will have its grand opening on November 17, 2008. If you would like to register a school group please contact the Oriental Institute Museum Education Office at 773-702-9507 or email oi-education@uchicago.edu. This two-hour program includes the excavation and a tour of the Oriental Institute Museum's galleries. For more information visit http://oi.uchicago.edu/museum/tours/.
Visiting Hours:Monday - Museum Closed; Tuesday - 10AM-6PM; Wednesday - 10AM-8:30PM; Thursday - 10AM-6PM; Friday - 10AM-6PM; Saturday - 10AM-6PM; Sunday Noon-6PM
—Prof. Chuan He
