APU Professor, Archeologist Appears on the History Channel

May 20, 2008

In anticipation of the May 22 release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the History Channel blurs the lines of screenplay and reality with a two-hour special, Indiana Jones and the Ultimate Quest. Included in the investigative documentary is an interview with Robert Mullins, Ph.D., assistant professor of biblical studies at Azusa Pacific University and expert in Ancient Near East archeology.

Mullins was interviewed alongside experts from Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, New York University, and more for the documentary which explores the real-life archeological evidence behind Indiana Jones’ famous sought-after treasures, including the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail, the Sankara Stone, and the Crystal Skull.

"People are very much inspired by the movie and that sense of adventure," said Mullins in the interview. He comments on comparisons between the movie and real-life archeology. “And for me as an archeologist, I have to admit the positive influence that Indiana Jones has on me personally is the thrill of discovery,” he said.

Earning his Ph.D. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mullins has worked on several archaeological excavations, most notably at Beth-Shean and Tel Rehov in the Jordan Valley in Israel. His publications have included entries in the Anchor Bible Dictionary and Encyclopedia Judacia. His most recent work Excavations at Tel Beth-Shean 1989-1996, Volume II: The Middle and Late Bronze Age Strata in Area R, offers in-depth discussion of the architecture, pottery assemblages, and archeological remains of the Bronze Age era.

Indiana Jones and the Ultimate Quest debuted Sunday, May 18, on the History Channel. It re-airs Sunday, May 25 at 8 p.m. PST, and Saturday, May 31 at 5 p.m. PST on the History Channel. Check your local listings for additional times.

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