Thinking Ahead to Summer … Digs in ’79

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Keeping in mind Dan Cole’s advice in the previous article, on “How to Pick A Dig,” now read below to discover which digs will be seeking volunteers in Israel this summer.

It has become a BAR spring ritual to publish a round-up of archaeological excavations seeking volunteer participants for the up-coming summer season. As in previous years, we have tried to be as complete and accurate as time and the availability of information permit, but the following information for this summer is offered with the caveat that some of it may change by June.

Remember—as a number of readers have written—age need not be a deterrent to joining a dig if good health and spirit are there. Try it. You will never read BAR in quite the same way again!

The Lahav Research Project will be in the field again for the third season. The site, near kibbutz Lahav, in the foothills between Beersheba and Hebron, is called Tell Halif. It is thought to be Biblical Rimmon (Joshua 15:32), an identification supported by the discovery of a unique ceramic bowl with a pomegranate form in its center; in Hebrew rimmon means “pomegranate.” Remains already found date to the fourth millennium B.C. (Chalcolithic period), but the most prominent remains are Israelite (1000–700 B.C.). Digging begins at Tell Halif on June 17 and will continue through July 27. Academic credit is offered. The Director of the Lahav Project is Dr. Joe D. Seger, University of Nebraska at Omaha. For further information about 021volunteering this summer write to: Dr. Dan Cole; Lahav Research Project; Lake Forest College; Lake Forest, Illinois 60045.

Two excavation sessions are planned at Tell Batash (Biblical Timnah) in the Sorek Valley. This dig is sponsored by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Mississippi College in collaboration with the Hebrew University. Amihai Mazar is the Archaeological Field Director, and George Kelm is the Expedition Director. The first session is June 4–22 and the second, June 25–July 13. An academic credit program is available only during the first session. Details and applications may be obtained by writing to: Dr. George L. Kelm; Timnah Expedition; 3939 Gentilly Boulevard; New Orleans, Louisiana 10126.

Biblical Dan, also called Laish in the Bible and other ancient texts, is the site of a long-term archaeological research project sponsored jointly by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem, the Israeli Department of Antiquities, and the Semitic Museum of Harvard University. The Excavation Director is Dr. Avraham Biran, Director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology. Dan is one of the two cities where Jeroboam set up worship of a golden calf after Solomon’s death. From this period and earlier, the excavations have revealed impressive architecture and beautiful artifacts including massive Canaanite ramparts of the second millennium B.C., an Israelite city wall and gate, a high place or open air sanctuary with masonry from the time of the Israelite monarchy, and an inscription in Greek and Aramaic reading “To the god who is in Dan”. The five week season in 1979 runs from June 23 through July 27. Three hours of academic credit are offered. Further details and applications are available from: Dr. Paul M. Steinberg; Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion; 40 West 68 Street; New York, New York 10023.

The Joint Israeli-American Expedition to Aphek-Antipatris will again be in the field in 1979, directed by Drs. Moshe Kochavi and Pirhiya Beck from Tel Aviv University. Participating in the excavations, in addition to Tel Aviv University, are Allegheny College, Cornell University, Rice University, and the Municipality of Petah Tikva. Aphek flourished in the early and Middle Bronze Ages and continued as one of the most important cities of later Biblical times. In the New Testament period, Aphek became Antipatris, the city built by Herod and visited by the Apostle Paul (Acts 23:31). An outstanding find of 022the 1978 season was a pair of cuneiform tablets. One of them seems to be a letter sent by an official of the city of Ugarit to another official of higher rank, requesting judgment against a man who had cheated him. Both officials are known by name from the archives of their cities. This letter is the first historical document found in Israel from the period of the Israelite conquest. There will be two excavation sessions at Aphek-Antipatris this summer: June 17–July 13 and July 15–August 10. College credit is offered. To receive a descriptive brochure and application write to the U.S. Project Coordinator, Dr. Don Hobson; Box 14; Allegheny College; Meadville, Pennsylvania 16335.

Tel Aviv University, in cooperation with the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Minnesota, and Brigham Young University, will also be in the field at Tell Michal, a seaside site north of Tel Aviv. Excavations at Tell Michal in 1978 revealed occupation of the main mound during the 18th century B.C., during the period of the United Monarchy in the 10th century B.C., through the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Especially significant for understanding the history of this area were a stratified series of occupations dating from the fifth century B.C. when Phoenician seamen and traders were in control of the entire coast from Jaffa to Mt. Carmel. The project is directed by Dr. J. D. Muhly and Dr. Zev Herzog. Two sessions are offered: July 1–July 27 and July 29–August 24. All volunteers are expected to participate in the credit course. Further information may be obtained by writing to the U.S. Project Coordinator, Mr. Fred Brandfon; 200 Bennett St.; Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 48858.

Excavation will continue this summer at another Mediterranean coastal site, Caesarea, the elaborate port city of Herod the Great. A short season is planned for a group of about 60 people; experienced volunteers are especially needed. Excavation Director, Dr. Robert Bull expects to continue exposure of remains along the Cardo, the main street of the city, revealed last summer. It is hoped that eventually the entire city plan of Caesarea will be known. The dates of the excavation will be June 21 through July 24. Dr. Bull suggests that for additional information, potential volunteers should write to him at the Institute for Archaeological Research, Drew University; Madison, New Jersey 07940.

Tell Yin’am, identified as Biblical Yavne’el, an Israelite city along the southern border of the tribe of 023Naphtali, (and also, tentatively, as Yenoam—known from 14th century B.C. Egyptian sources) will be the site of an archaeological expedition by the University of Texas. Located near the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee, Yin’am consists of a small, dramatic, circular mound rising from the fertile floor of the Yavne’el Valley and a large outlying terrace settlement. The site was occupied from the Neolithic period (7000 B.C.) to the late Roman/Byzantine period (500 A.D.), a longer history of continual occupation than any tell in Israel. Yin’am is also unique because it has yielded remains of the only ancient Near Eastern iron smelteries yet known. All persons 18 or older, who have completed one year of college, are eligible to apply to join the excavation which is scheduled for May 29 to July 12 with accommodation and meals at the Tiberias Youth Hostel. Application forms and additional information may be obtained by writing to the Director: Dr. Harold Leibowitz; Department of Oriental and African Languages and Literatures; University of Texas; 2601 University Avenue; Austin, Texas 78712.

All the above mentioned excavations charge fees to volunteers and provide accommodations for them.

The excavation in Jerusalem at the ancient City of David is atypical in that volunteers (who must commit at least two consecutive weeks of time) pay no fees and make their own living arrangements in Jerusalem. Although the City of David was explored by Charles Warren in the 1860’s and by the late Kathleen Kenyon in the 1960’s much remains hidden in the mound of ancient Jerusalem under centuries of debris. This latest expedition, directed by Dr. Yigal Shiloh of Hebrew University is sponsored by the Institute of Archaeology at Hebrew University, the Israel Exploration Society, the Jerusalem Foundation and a group of South African sponsors headed by Mendel Kaplan. The most recent methods and technology are being used at this dramatic and complicated site. One of the objectives of the dig is a thorough hydrogeological survey of underground water systems in the City of David so that in the future we may know as much about Warren’s shaft and the pools as we do about the famous Hezekiah’s tunnel. For additional information and an application form write to: The City of David Archaeological Project; Institute of Archaeology; Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem, Israel.

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Rescue of Archaeological Sites in the Biblical Negev

Relocation of military installations from Sinai to the Negev in the wake of an Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement threatens to destroy important unstudied archaeological remains. On December 5, noted archaeologist and Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, Professor Yigael Yadin, called for allocation of IL 10 million ($500,000) by the Israeli government, and for a massive effort by Israeli archaeologists to save important Negev sites.

The funds were allocated to permit an extensive survey in order to identify archaeological sites. In the month of February, during the university intersessions, many archaeology faculty members and students responded to the emergency and went to the Negev to excavate at Tell Ira, Tell Masos and Tell Malhata and to begin the survey.

This coming summer some excavation plans will be modified to allow money and people to be used in the Negev. Information about changes will be available from individual dig directors, whose names are included in “Thinking Ahead to Summer.”

Those wishing to participate as volunteers in the Negev rescue effort are asked to write for information to Negev Rescue Excavations; Israel Department of Antiquities; Rockefeller Museum; Jerusalem. Israel.

Keeping in mind Dan Cole’s advice in the previous article, on “How to Pick A Dig,” now read below to discover which digs will be seeking volunteers in Israel this summer.