Scholar and Turkey expert Mark Wilson | Travel - Study - from the publisher of Biblical Archaeology Review

Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson combines thorough knowledge of the Bible with an intimate familiarity with Turkey’s historic sites. In 2009–10 he worked at the BAS-sponsored excavation of the synagogue at Priene. Mark Wilson is the director of the Asia Minor Research Center in Antalya, Turkey. Mark received his doctorate in Biblical Studies from the University of South Africa (Pretoria), where he serves as a Research Fellow in the Department of Old Testament and Biblical Archaeology. He is currently Visiting Professor of Early Christianity at Regent University and leads field studies in Turkey for several universities and seminaries. He is the author of Biblical Turkey: A Guide to the Jewish and Christians Sites of Turkey, Charts on the Book of Revelation, and Revelation (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary series). Professor Wilson also served as a consultant for “The First Christians” in the History Channel’s “Lost Worlds” series.

Presenter at

Bible & Archaeology Fest XV, November 16-18, 2012
Bible Atlases: Can We Trust Them?
More than a dozen atlases of the Bible have been published in the past three years. Their presentation of the biblical sites and events is presumed to be based on solid archaeological and geographical research. But are they? In this session we will look at four test cases—two from the Jewish Scriptures and two from the New Testament—and see how they are presented in these important reference tools. We will examine the evidence used to make editorial decisions. And we will see if the atlases’ cartographers are using accurate data on their maps.

Bible & Archaeology Fest XIV, November 18-20, 2011
Who’s Buried in Philip’s Tomb?
Questions and controversy continue to swirl around the recent discovery of Philip’s tomb in Hierapolis, Turkey. Was this Philip the evangelist or Philip the apostle? Why didn’t the magnificent martyrium built for Philip in the fifth century and excavated in recent years contain his tomb? And what evidence led project director Francesco D’Andria and his Italian archaeological team to conclusively identify this new tomb structure as Philip’s? This presentation will examine these and other issues surrounding one of this year’s most exciting archaeological discoveries.

Bible & Archaeology Fest XIII, November 19-21, 2010
Jews in Asia Minor: The Archaeological Evidence
Much literary evidence exists for the presence of Jews in Asia Minor. The Hebrew Bible, the Deuterocanonicals, the New Testament, and Josephus all speak about these communities. However, archaeological evidence has been sparse and scattered among various excavations in Turkey. In this session, we will examine the evidence so far for the Jewish presence in Asia Minor. We will also look at synagogues that have been discovered, particularly the new synagogue at Andriake. The Biblical Archaeology Society has sponsored two seasons of work at the synagogue at Priene, and this presentation will share the most recent discoveries and research to come out of this unique excavation.

Bible & Archaeology Fest XII, November 20-22, 2009
In the Footsteps of Paul in Asia Minor: Are there Still Roman Roads to Follow?
Many visitors travel to Asia Minor each year to tour in the “Footsteps of Paul.” While they may see many cities in which Paul ministered, most never see any ancient roads upon which Paul would have walked. Instead they are able to travel along Turkey’s highways in air-conditioned buses and stay each night in comfortable hotels. Many ancient roads, especially from the Roman period, still exist in Turkey; some of these Paul undoubtedly traveled upon. In this presentation we will look at the evidence for these roads, some of which are disappearing in the face of development. We will focus especially on new research related to the route of Paul’s first journey along the Via Sebaste from Perga to Pisidian Antioch.