Chris McKinny
Center for Biblical Archeology
Associate Professor
Biography
Dr. Chris McKinny is the Associate Professor of Archaeology at Lipscomb University. He is a host on the Biblical World podcast. Most recently, he was Director of Research at Gesher Media, where he helped produce a documentary on the Ark of the Covenant. As a senior staff member at the Tel Burna Archaeological project, Chris regularly leads study tours to the lands of the Bible. Passionate about the archaeology, history, and geography of the Biblical world, he has written extensively on these subjects in both academic and popular publications. He is the author of My People as Your People: A Textual and Archaeological Analysis of the Reign of Jehoshaphat (Peter Lang, 2016), and has co-edited several volumes, including The Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Ages of Southern Canaan (De Gruyter, 2018) and Tell it in Gath: Studies in the History and Archaeology of Israel: Essays in Honor of Aren M. Maeir on the Occasion of his Sixtieth Birthday (Zaphon, 2018).
Academic Degrees
- Ph.D. in Archaeology and Land of Israel Studies, Bar Ilan University, 2017
- M.A. in Archaeology and Land of Israel Studies, Bar Ilan University, 2014
- M.A. in Biblical History and Geography, Jerusalem University College, 2011
- B.A. in Biblical Languages (Hebrew and Greek), The Master's University, 2008
Academic Department
Lanier Center for Archaeology
Books
- Keimer, Kyle H., McKinny, Chris and Tavger, Aharon. New Studies in the Historical Geography of the Ancient Near East, De Gruyter, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111677866
- Maeir, A., Shai, I., and McKinny, C. (editors) (2019): The Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages of Southern Canaan. Archaeology of the Biblical Worlds vol. 2. Berlin and New York. DeGruyter. 285 pp.
- Shai, I., Hitchcock, L., Chadwick, J., Dagan, A., McKinny, C. and Uziel, J. (editors) (2018): Tell it in Gath: Studies in the History and Archaeology of Israel Essays in Honor of A. M. Maeir on the Occasion of his Sixtieth Birthday. Münster. Zaphon-Verlag. 1093 pp.
- McKinny, C. (2016): My People as Your People: A Textual and Archaeological Analysis of the Reign of Jehoshaphat. New York. Peter Lang Publishing. 188 pp.
Select Articles and Book Chapters
- Susnow, M., McKinny, C., and Shai, I. (2024): "Object Biographies, Object Agency and a Local Community's Encounter with and Response to Foreign Commodities: The Pithoi from LB Tel Burna as a Case Study." Cambridge Archaeological Journal 1–18.
- Tavger, A., McKinny, C., Cassuto, D., Gaastra, J., Ortiz, S., and Shai, I. (2023): "The Fortifications of Tel Burna: A Reappraisal after Twelve Seasons of Excavations (2010–2022)." ʿAtiqot 11: 73–102.
- McKinny, C. and Thomas, Z. (2022): "Historical Geography Gone Awry at Khirbet er-Raʿi – The Identifications of Biblical Ziklag and (non-Biblical) Pethor/Phathura." Israel Exploration Journal 72(1): 66–88.
- Suriano, M. and McKinny, C. (2022): "Rediscovering the Royal Steward Inscription: A Photographic Study." Near Eastern Archaeology 85(3): 200–210.
- Locatell, C., McKinny, C., and Shai, I. (2022): "The Tree of Life Motif, Late Bronze Canaanite Cult, and a Recently Discovered Krater from Tel Burna." Journal of American Oriental Society 142(3): 573–596.
- Historical Geography of the Bible
- Social and Cultural Settings of the New Testament
- New Testament Archaeology
- Archaeology of Galilee
- Historical Geography of the Biblical World
- New Testament Archaeology
2021–present – Biblical World Podcast with OnScript
Co-host podcast dedicated to understanding the world of the Bible through archaeology, history, geography, and culture – ranking in the top 2% of all podcasts based on number of downloads.
Director of Research – Legends of the Lost Ark
- G. Douglas Young Scholarship – Jerusalem University College, 2008-2010
- Lee and Wanda Borg Scholarship – Jerusalem University College, Fall 2009
- Graduated "with honors" – Jerusalem University College, 2011
- Meyers Fellowship – ASOR, 2014
- McKinny, C. (October 2024): "Yahweh came from Sinai and marched from Seir – the Wilderness Wanderings." Delta to the Desert Conference – Lanier Center for Archaeology at Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN.
- McKinny, C. (November 2023): "On the Margin – The Survey of Palestine and the Historical Geography of the Libnah District (Josh 15:42–44)." The Western Boundaries of Ancient Judah Recent Archaeological Discoveries in the Foothills of Judah – Lanier Center for Archaeology at Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN.
- McKinny, C. (September 2023): "On the Margin – The Survey of Palestine and the Historical Geography of the Libnah District (Josh 15:42–44)." Boundaries and Influences in the Archeology of Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean at Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
- McKinny, C. (February 2022): "Simeonites in the Shephelah? The Historical Geography of 'Ether and Ashan' (Josh 15:42)." Hinterland Economy and Daily Life in Iron II Judah – Research Workshop of the Israel Science Foundation.
- Shai, I and McKinny, C. (April 2021): "Canaanite Cult with a Cypriot Scent: A View from Tel Burna, Israel." Transcultural Mobilities and Memories Online Conference.
