Digs 2015: Blast from the Past

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Every year they come—from diverse corners of the world and different walks of life: students, professionals, enthusiasts, retirees, travel lovers, adventure seekers and more. They put their lives on hold for a couple of weeks or even months, and they dig!

Volunteer participants are an essential part of most academic excavation teams. These volunteers donate not only their time but their energy and enthusiasm as well. Thanks to their contributions, excavations throughout Israel, Jordan, Turkey and the Mediterranean are able to operate expeditiously.

Their work is not easy. It involves early mornings and long hours of digging—from the cool of the morning through the heat of the day—followed by pottery washing and the processing of artifacts in the late afternoon. For excavations with field schools, the day often concludes with an evening lecture.

Although the schedule is demanding, it is not without its rewards. Although the days are long, they are usually filled with interesting conversations, delicious food and occasional tours of neighboring sites and sights, as well as 033 034 learning archaeological method and theory. Camaraderie and lasting friendships are formed while washing pottery, pick-axing a fill or sweeping a floor. Participating in an excavation allows you to explore new places—all while adding to our knowledge of ancient cultures and civilizations.

Volunteers come, dig, learn and uncover history!

The 2014 excavation season was no exception. It was a bustling summer full of exciting discoveries and hard work, as shown by the numerous photographs we received from excavations.

For some, this adventure began in the pages of BAR. Every year in the January/February issue, we highlight volunteers and discoveries from past excavation seasons and publicize opportunities for the upcoming year.

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In some cases, BAR scholarships provide a grant for individuals who would otherwise not be able to participate. The BAR Dig Scholarship program is funded by some wonderful donors (see box, “Excavation Opportunities in 2015”). In 2014, recipients of BAR scholarships volunteered at excavations throughout Israel—from Abel Beth Maacah in the north to Tell Halif in the south, from Tel Dor on the Mediterranean Sea to Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee, from Ashkelon in Philistine territory to Mt. Zion in Jerusalem—as well as sites in Jordan. Several of these volunteers shared their experiences, giving BAR readers an inside view of the 2014 season and the workings of an excavation (“2014 Scholarship Recipients Go Digging”).

Since the beginning, 40 years ago, BAR has been committed to connecting volunteers with excavations. An article titled “Go Dig, Young Man (and Woman)” appeared in BAR’s first issue (March 1975). Excavation opportunities continued to be announced annually thereafter.

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Our January/February issue has become known as the “Dig” issue. Since 1986, volunteers—both individuals and in groups—have been featured on the cover of the “Dig” issue.

Our 40th anniversary is an exciting time, as well as a time for reflection. In honor of this significant milestone, we checked in for an update with a few individuals who have been featured on past covers of BAR—as well as a couple of past BAR scholarship recipients. Their responses were so interesting, we knew we’d have to share them with you! Some of these people who have been featured in BAR have continued in the field and others not. But all acknowledge that archaeology has played a significant role in their lives Where are they now? Read their stories.

BAR has been connecting volunteers with excavations for the past 40 years, and for the last 29 of those years, volunteer excavators have been featured on the cover of the “Dig” issue. To see more updates from former BAR cover stars, please visit us at www.biblicalarchaeology.org/pastcoverstars.

Additionally, if you were featured on the cover of a past issue of BAR—or if you know someone who was—please let us know what you’re doing now. We’d love to hear an update about your life and how archaeology has—or hasn’t—influenced it! You can contact us at info@bib-arch.org.

We at BAR hope that we can continue to help connect volunteers with excavation opportunities at Biblical archaeology sites at least for the next 40 years!

Every year they come—from diverse corners of the world and different walks of life: students, professionals, enthusiasts, retirees, travel lovers, adventure seekers and more. They put their lives on hold for a couple of weeks or even months, and they dig! Volunteer participants are an essential part of most academic excavation teams. These volunteers donate not only their time but their energy and enthusiasm as well. Thanks to their contributions, excavations throughout Israel, Jordan, Turkey and the Mediterranean are able to operate expeditiously. Their work is not easy. It involves early mornings and long hours of digging—from the cool […]