Invitation to a Summer’s Dig

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As in years past summer is the time for old hands and new adventurers—young and not so young—to join archaeological excavations in the Holy Land.

There are many opportunities in 1978, some of which offer academic credit for the work-study of the summer.

Tel Aviv University, Institute of Archaeology will be digging at three sites; Aphek (Antipatris), Tell Lachish, and Tell Michal.

Aphek was one of the largest and most important Biblical cities, strategically located at the source of the Yarkon River (near modern Tel Aviv) on the Israelite-Philistine border. Six seasons of excavations at Aphek have already revealed that the settlement flourished as far back as the Early Bronze age (3rd millennium B.C.). From the Late Bronze period (16th–13th centuries B.C.) remains of a Canaanite palace have been found. In New Testament times, Aphek became Antipatris, a city built by Herod the Great. The apostle Paul passed Antipatris on his way to Caesarea (Acts 23:31).

During the 1978 season, a Herodian road and Roman temple will be excavated. Simultaneously, excavations will continue at the nearby Israelite site of Ebenezer (Izbet Sarteh). Ebenezer is mentioned in 1 Samuel 4:1; there the Israelites pitched their tents when they fought unsuccessfully against the Philistines who were camped at Aphek. A clay tablet inscribed with a Hebrew alphabet—the oldest Hebrew inscription ever discovered—was recently found at this site (see “The Ancient Cardo Is Discovered In Jerusalem,” BAR 02:04). The inscription dates from the 10th century B.C.

The seventh season of excavations at Aphek will be in collaboration with Cornell University and Allegheny College and will be directed by Dr. Moshe Kochavi, chairman of Tel Aviv University, Institute of Archaeology. Inquiries regarding Aphek-Ebenezer excavations should be directed to Dr. Don Hobson, Box 14, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania 16335.

The large mound of Tell Lachish contains the remains of the great city frequently mentioned in the Bible. Lachish fell in 701 B.C. to the Assyrian siege led by Sennacherib, an event well-known from the reliefs found at the Palace of Sennacherib in Nineveh. During the first millennium B.C. Lachish was second in importance in Judah only to Jerusalem.

This coming summer will be the seventh season of excavation at Lachish under the direction of Dr. David Ussishkin of Tel Aviv University. Digging will continue in the huge Judean palace-fort, in the underlying Canaanite palace and temple, in the area of the massive Judean city-gate, and in the cemetery. For more information write to Professor Song Nai Thee, Northwest Christian College, 11th and Alder, Eugene, Oregon 97401.

Tell Michal is a small mound on the Mediterranean shore near Tel Aviv, excavated for the first time last year. The city was settled about 2100 B.C. From the beginning, it was a merchant city, possibly with its own port. This dig is part of a broader archaeology project studying the Yarkon Valley.

The Tell Michal expedition is a joint effort with the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Minnesota, and Brigham Young University. Further information can be obtained by writing to the U. S. co-ordinator Mr. Fred Brandfon, 200 Bennett Street. Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 48858.

There will be two four-week digging sessions at each site starting on June 25 at Aphek and Lachish and on July 2 at Tell Michal. Credit courses (in 041English) will be available at all three sites in “Field Archaeology” and “Regional Archaeology” and at Aphek and Lachish in an “Introduction to Biblical Archaeology”. At Tell Michal courses are compulsory; Aphek and Lachish will accept participants not enrolled in courses for a minimum of two weeks.

Enrollment information may be obtained from the Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel or from the U.S. coordinators listed above.

Dr. Avraham Biran, former director of the Israel Department of Antiquities, will again lead an excavation team at Tell Dan. A five week season is projected beginning June 17. The sponsor, Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion, is offering the option of either a total six week package with flight cost included or the participant may arrange his or her own transportation and pay only the cost of the excavation season. Volunteers may attend an introductory course given at the site on the “Archaeology of the Land of Israel” and join field trips to other sites. Inquiries should be sent to: Dr. Paul Steinberg, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 40 West 68th Street, New York, New York 10023.

Tell Dan rises directly above the abundant perennial springs flowing at the foot of Mt. Hermon. This is the site referred to in the Bible “from Dan to Beersheba”. Excavations this summer will expose the area of the high place, an open air sanctuary from the time of the Israelite monarchy, and will try to establish the date of the conquest of the city by the tribe of Dan. Before that conquest, the city was called Laish; afterwards its name was changed to Dan.

Excavation will continue this summer at Caesarea, Herod’s port city on the Mediterranean coast. This dig is a joint expedition by a consortium of twenty American institutions and is endorsed by the American Schools of Oriental Research. Volunteers are sought to make up about one third of the more than 150 digging staff. The ’78 season will be divided into two 5-week sessions starting on May 28 and July 1.

Dr. Robert Bull, director of the excavation, plans during this eighth season to continue exploration in 5 areas including: A 6th century Byzantine spa which existed for only one century and contains clearly datable artifacts, especially valuable to archaeologists for dating other sites, and the 80 Herodian storage vaults thought to be the vaulted warehouses described by Josephus Flavius as having “as much care bestowed on them as the buildings above ground.” Exploration of the 3rd century memorial building above the vaults, one of the high points in 1977’s dig, will also continue this year.

For more details about volunteering to work at Caesarea write to: Dr. Robert Bull; Institute for Archaeological Research, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey 07940.

Additional information on Israeli sponsored excavations may be obtained by writing to Ms. Chana Harkavi, Ministry of Tourism, P.O. Box 1018, Jerusalem, Israel.

Dr. Gus Van Beek will again lead the Smithsonian Institution excavations at Tell Jemmeh but all volunteer opportunities have already been filled.

As in years past summer is the time for old hands and new adventurers—young and not so young—to join archaeological excavations in the Holy Land.
There are many opportunities in 1978, some of which offer academic credit for the work-study of the summer.