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Scholarship  Dr. Cargill at University of Iowa Classics Dr. Robert Raymond Cargill is Assistant Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Iowa, where he teaches biblical studies, classical mythology, and history and archaeology of the Near East. His research includes study in the Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls; literary criticism of the Bible, Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha, and other Ancient Near Eastern texts; virtual reality and digital reconstruction of archaeological sites; and issues pertaining to science and religion. He has appeared as an expert on numerous television documentaries and specials and is an advocate for public higher education. Dr. Cargill earned his B.S. from CSU Fresno in Human Physiology, following a pre-med curriculum. He earned his seminary degree, the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), from Pepperdine University, a M.A. in Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations from UCLA, and his Ph.D. from UCLA in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. Dr. Cargill's doctoral research focused primarily on archaeology and literature of Second Temple period in Israel and Palestine, with an emphasis on Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls. He also developed a methodology for using virtual reality and digital modeling to test proposed reconstructions of archaeological remains. Dr. Cargill has participated in numerous archaeological field excavations, including Banias (ancient Caesarea Philippi), Omrit, and Hazor. He has presented several academic papers at regional and national congresses of the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Schools of Oriental Research. Dr. Cargill is a member of American Mensa. Robert is the Instructional Technology Coordinator for the Center for Digital Humanities at UCLA. He also serves as the Chief Architect and Designer of the Qumran Visualization Project, a real time virtual restoration of the site of Qumran, near where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Curriculum Vita Education Ph. D. - Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (2008) M. A. - Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations (2006) M. Div. - Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA (2000) B. S. - Human Physiology / Pre-Med (1996) A.A. - Fresno City College, CA (1993) Publications 2011 "The State of the Archaeological Debate at Qumran," Currents in Biblical Research, 10 (1): 101-18. 2011 "A Critique of Simcha Jacobovici's Secrets of Christianity: Nails of the Cross," The Bible and Interpretation, May 2011. http://www.bibleinterp.com/articles/simcha358005.shtml 2010 "On the Virtue of Doubt: A Brief Autobiography of the Skeptic in the Sanctuary," JasonBoyett.com, September 2010. http://blog.beliefnet.com/omeoflittlefaith/2010/09/robert-cargill-skeptic-sanctuary.html 2010 "The Benefit of Blogging for Archaeology," Bulletin for the Study of Religion, 39 (3): 12-16. 2010 "How and Why Academic Peer-Review is About to Change," The Bible and Interpretation, August 2010. http://www.bibleinterp.com/opeds/cargillp357931.shtml 2010 “On the Misuse of Archaeology for Evangelistic Purposes,” The Bible and Interpretation, June 2010. http://www.bibleinterp.com/articles/misuse357930.shtml 2010 “The “Camera Friendly” Scholar: Essentials of Giving Great TV Interviews,” 8-12 in Academics and the Media: Four Perspectives (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2010). 2010 “Forget about Noah’s Ark; There Was No Worldwide Flood,” The Bible and Interpretation, May 2010. http://www.bibleinterp.com/articles/flood357903.shtml 2009 “On False Accusations of Anti-Semitism within the Academy,” The Bible and Interpretation, December 2009. http://www.bibleinterp.com/articles/false3141515.shtml 2009 “Why Christians Should Adopt the BCE/CE Dating System,” The Bible and Interpretation, September 2009. http://www.bibleinterp.com/opeds/why_3530.shtml 2009 “Pseudo-Science and Sensationalist Archaeology: An Exposé of Jimmy Barfield and the Copper Scroll Project,” The Bible and Interpretation, August 2009. http://www.bibleinterp.com/articles/cargill2_08261.shtml 2009 “On the Curious Protests of the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition in Toronto,” The Bible and Interpretation, August 2009. http://www.bibleinterp.com/opeds/curious.shtml 2009 “On the Insignificance and the Abuse of the Copper Scroll,” The Bible and Interpretation, July 2009. http://www.bibleinterp.com/opeds/copper.shtml 2009 “The Qumran Digital Model: An Argument for Archaeological Reconstruction in Virtual Reality” and “A Response to Magness,” Near Eastern Archaeology 72/1: 28-47. 2009 “The Fortress at Qumran: A History of Interpretation,” The Bible and Interpretation, May 2009. http://www.bibleinterp.com/articles/qumfort.shtml 2007 - Ancient Qumran: A Virtual Reality Tour. Produced, wrote, and directed film commissioned by the San Diego Natural History Museum’s for their exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls, June 29 – December 31, 2007. Television Appearances 2011 “History of the World in Two Hours” – Appeared as expert on episode that premiered on The History Channel, October 2011. (Flight 33) “Writing the Dead Sea Scrolls” – Appeared as featured investigator exploring new research about the Dead Sea Scrolls that appeared on National Geographic Channel, July 2010. (CTVC) “Ancient Aliens: The Series” - Appeared as expert on series that aired on The History Channel, April-May 2010. (Prometheus Entertainment) “Life After People: 10,000+ Years After Humans” - Appeared as expert in documentary that premiered on The History Channel, January 2010. (Flight 33) “Blood for the Gods: Sex & Death” - Appeared as expert on episode that premiered on The Discovery Channel, January 2010. (Flight 33) “Daily Planet: October 6, 2009” - Appeared in a featured segment highlighting the archaeology of Qumran on Discovery Channel Canada, October 6, 2009. (Discovery) “Angels & Demons: Decoded” - Appeared as expert on episode that premiered on The History Channel, May 2009. (Prometheus) “Biblical Mysteries Explained: Lost Gospels” - Appeared as expert on episode that premiered on The Discovery Channel, April 2009. (Flight 33) “Ancient Aliens” - Appeared as expert on episode that premiered on The History Channel, March 2009. (Prometheus) “Biblical Mysteries Explained: Exodus” - Appeared as expert on episode that premiered on The Discovery Channel, December 2008. (Flight 33) “Decoding the Past: Prophecies of Iraq” - Appeared as expert on episode that premiered on The History Channel, January 2006. (Paulist) “Decoding the Past: Prophecies of Israel” - Appeared as expert on episode that premiered on The History Channel, December 2005. (Paulist) Selected Media Coverage Casas, Flavia, “Tech-savvy Professors Take to Tweeting,” Daily Bruin, Jan. 20, 2011. [web] Horgan, Richard, “UCLA Prof Earns Doctorate in Self-Defense,” Fishbowl LA, Nov. 23, 2010. [web] Tugend, Tom, “Slander, Lies and the Dead Sea Scrolls,” Jewish Journal, Nov. 23, 2010. [web] “Cyber Bullying: The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Criminal Case of Raphael Golb,” UCLA Newsweek, Nov. 17, 2010 [web] Selavan, Barnea and Dovid Willner, “Interview of Dr. Robert Cargill,” LandMinds, Arutz Sheva’s Israel National Radio, Aug. 18, 2010. [mp3 part 1, part 2] Abhold, Katrina, “Robert Cargill ‘Star’ of Fresno City Colleges,” UCLA Today, Aug. 3, 2010. [web] Than, Ker, “Biblical Mystery of Dead Sea Scrolls Solved?” National Geographic, July 27, 2010. [web] Sullivan, Meg, “Scholar Highlights New Research on Dead Sea Scrolls in TV Special,” UCLA Today, July 22, 2010. [web] Tigay, Chanan, “Scholarly Squad Debunks Biblical ‘Discoveries’,” AOL News, May 2, 2010. [web] Jarus, Owen, “Exclusive Interview: Dr. Robert Cargill on Virtual Reality Qumran,” Heritage Key, July 20, 2009. [web] Kolowich, Steve, “Harassment of Dead Sea Scroll Scholars Leads to Arrest of Professor’s Son,” Chronicle of Higher Education, March 6, 2009. [web] Afron, Heidi, “קומראן בתלת־ממד” (“Qumran in Three-dimensions”), National Geographic Israel, June 2008. (Hebrew) [web] Sanchez, Maria, “Interview with Robert Cargill,” The Maria Sanchez Show, KTVA AM 1520, Dec. 27, 2007. Whipps, Heather, “Warriors Once Occupied Dead Sea Scrolls Site,” Live Science, July 12, 2007. [web] Feuer, Jack, “On Exhibit: Ancient Qumran Comes Alive,” UCLA Magazine, July, 1, 2007 [web] Sullivan, Meg, “Virtual Qumran Sheds New Light On Dead Sea Scrolls Discovery Site,” Science Daily, June 21, 2007 [web] Tugend, Tom, “Armchair Archeologists Can Explore Qumran Virtually,” Jewish Journal, June 14, 2007. [web] Conference Papers and Lectures “The Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process during the First Decade of the 2000s: An Assessment” – Presented as a part of a symposium sponsored by the Middle Eastern Peace and Awareness (MEPA) organization at Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, March 10, 2010. “The State of the Archaeological Debate at Qumran” - Presented at the Association for Jewish Studies annual meeting in Los Angeles, CA, December 21, 2009. “Scholars Behaving Badly: ‘Charles Gadda,’ Raphael Golb, and the Campaign of Anonymity on the Internet to Promote Norman Golb and Smear His Rivals,” - Presented at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, November 22, 2009. “A Tour of Herodian Jerusalem” - Presented to the Los Angeles chapter of the Biblical Archaeology Society, Los Angeles, CA, May 1, 2009. “Qumran at the Dead Sea: A Virtual Reality Tour of the Dead Sea Qumran Settlement” - Presented at the “Writings from the Ancient World” conference at California State University, Fullerton (Irvine Campus), Irvine, CA, April 4, 2009. “Promoting Social Justice: Confronting Racism and Homophobia” - Presented as part of a panel discussion hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology at the Howard Hughes Center West Los Angeles Campus, March 24, 2009. “The Eight Gates of Jerusalem” - Presented to the Los Angeles chapter of the Biblical Archaeology Society, Monrovia, CA, January 9, 2009. “Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls” - Presented at the Oxnard Public Library, Oxnard, CA, January 19, 2008. “The Qumran Visualization Project” - Presented to the UCLA Club of San Diego, San Diego, CA, November 20, 2007. “The Archaeology of Qumran: The Digitally Reconstructed Settlement and a Proposed Occupation Model” - Presented at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 19, 2007. “The Archaeology of Qumran: The Digitally Reconstructed Settlement and a Proposed Occupation Model” - Presented at the American Schools of Oriental Research Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 17, 2007. “A Virtual Tour of Qumran” - Presented the Plenary Introduction for keynote speaker Dr. Jodi Magness’ American Schools of Oriental Research Plenary Presentation: “The Current State of Qumran Archaeology,” San Diego, CA, November 14, 2007. “Ancient Qumran: A Virtual Reality Tour” - Wrote script and produced film for the San Diego Natural History Museum’s exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls, on exhibit June 29 – December 31, 2007. “Qumran in Biblical Times: The Reconstructed Settlement at Khirbet Qumran” - Presented to the Los Angeles chapter of the Biblical Archaeology Society, Los Angeles, CA, April 23, 2007. “Qumran through (Real) Time: A Virtual Reconstruction of the Archaeology of Qumran” - Presented at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., November 20, 2006. “Qumran through (Real) Time: The Qumran Visualization Project” - Presented at the American Schools of Oriental Research Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., November 17, 2006. “Reactions to Binary Messianic Expectation in the Second Temple Period: Its Expectation, Embodiment, and Rejection” - Presented at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, CA, November 21, 2005. “A Brief History of Jerusalem” - Presented to the Los Angeles chapter of the Biblical Archaeology Society, Monrovia, CA, October 7, 2005. “Messianism at the Time of Christ” - Presented to the Los Angeles chapter of the Biblical Archaeology Society, Monrovia, CA, June 3, 2005. “Does Archaeology Illuminate the New Testament?” - Presented at the “Give Me An Answer” Lecture Series in Huntington Beach, CA, July 11, 2004. “Palaeo-Hebrew as Language Ideology in the Numismatic Record of the Bar Kokhba Revolt” - Presented at the Society of Biblical Literature Pacific Coast Regional Conference, Whittier, CA, March 21, 2004. “The History of Sepphoris through its Mosaics” - Presented to the Los Angeles chapter of the Biblical Archaeology Society, Monrovia, CA, January 9, 2004. “The Significance of Caesarea Philippi to the Ministry of Jesus” - Presented to the Los Angeles chapter of the Biblical Archaeology Society, Monrovia, CA, November 1, 2002. Grants, Awards, and Honors Membership in Professional Organizations Modern Language Proficiencies Ancient Language Proficiencies Doctoral Dissertation and Committee Dissertation Committee: Dissertation Abstract: It is concluded that after an initial Iron Age occupation, the site of Qumran was established as a fortress during the Hasmonean period. This fortress was then abandoned and reoccupied by a small religious community that expanded the site in a communal, non-military manner. The research concludes that the archaeological data do not eliminate the possibility that a sectarian group, with a keen concern for ritual purity, and participating in agricultural, industrial, and scribal endeavors took up residence in the former fortress. The dissertation concludes that this group was ultimately responsible for the library of documents found in the nearby caves, commonly known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Teaching Experience Archaeological Excavation Experience Research Interests
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2009 - Qumran through (Real) Time: A Virtual Reconstruction of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Bible in Technology 1 (Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press). (view)|
©2001-2010 Robert R. Cargill |