Introduction - The BAS Library


Maybe you’ve always dreamed of being an archaeologist. Ever since your first Indiana Jones movie you’ve longed for an archaeological adventure, imagined making a big find. Maybe you’re eager to uncover the history of places you know from the Bible. Perhaps you’re a student trying to make a career choice or to obtain some experience that will further you in your chosen field of ancient history, archaeology or theology. Or perhaps you just want to get away, do something different. Whoever you are, whatever your reasons, if you want to know what it takes to go on a dig, you’ve come to the right place.

Without volunteers many important sites would never be excavated. Others would never even be discovered. Every year we prepare a dig guide for volunteers, gathering information from archaeologists and past volunteers. In the following pages you’ll find a list of sites seeking volunteers; a map locating the sites throughout Israel and Jordan; a display of some of the prize finds from the past season; a quick overview of each site—including its history, Biblical associations, important finds, dig directors and their goals for the 1998 season; a chart for quick reference on all the sites—indicating dig dates, costs, accommodations and whom you should contact to volunteer. Most important, the stories of experienced volunteers contained in this section will help you to prepare for an archaeological expedition, or at least to enjoy one vicariously. We wish you, as one of the archaeologists says, “Happy hunting.”

MLA Citation

“Introduction,” Biblical Archaeology Review 24.1 (1998): 38.