Archaeological Views: Archaeologists—A Community of Compassion

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BAR columnists usually address some aspect of the archaeological enterprise—a discussion of field methods, current trends or a personal account of a life in archaeology. Often, a columnist will discuss whether there is such a discipline as Biblical archaeology and, if so, whether it is alive, dead or limping along. Articles in BAR sometimes give the impression that our field is polarized, with scholars constantly lining up in opposition to one another.

But I would like to present a personal view of archaeologists that is not often seen in the public forum—and to offer a public thanks to the archaeological community.

After teaching archaeology and Biblical backgrounds at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for six years, I was preparing for my sabbatical year and initiating a new excavation project with Sam Wolff of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) at Tel Gezer. We had met the previous two summers to plan our research and to coordinate logistics at the site.

I grew up in southern California and was still adjusting to life in New Orleans. My family was slowly adapting to Mardi Gras and hurricane seasons. Both seasons would bring the city to a standstill and cause mass migrations (Mardi Gras would swell the population, hurricanes would cause an exodus).

The 2005 hurricane season was no different. As I planned my fall courses, we got word: Katrina was bearing down on the Gulf Coast, and the mayor had ordered an evacuation. We knew we were in for a long traffic jam. Loading up a couple of gym bags with shorts and t-shirts, a box of family pictures and a “hurricane box” that contained our important papers, we left in our minivan just before the hurricane landed. We also had a generous supply of videos and snacks to keep a five-year-old boy, a seven-year-old girl and a 60-pound dog from driving my wife and me crazy.

We usually flee hurricanes by going to a friend’s house in Mississippi. But for some reason, I decided to turn left this time. I still don’t know why. The news reports were still saying that Katrina would be a Level 3 hurricane when it crossed Mississippi. That evening we found ourselves in Grapevine, Texas, waiting out the hurricane with my wife’s brother.

Initial reports and phone calls from neighbors informed us that Katrina had spared New Orleans but hit the Mississippi coast. I had lunch with a colleague in Fort Worth and told him that things were fine and that we would be going home in a day or two—only later did I find out that the levees had broken.

Today, the events that followed are a distant memory: learning that our home was under water, our shock and fear, long lines in shelters, applying for food stamps, aid, getting the kids into school, our FEMA apartment, searching for friends. And we were the fortunate ones. We had strong family support, as well as local Texas churches that provided for our needs. Within a month our faculty and students were back in classes using a revamped semester schedule and relying on the Internet. Seminars for Ph.D. candidates were held at centralized restaurants as we were scattered throughout the southeastern states.

In the midst of this academic year in exile, we continued to plan a major excavation at Tel Gezer.

Colleagues from all over the United States and Israel tracked us down to find out how we had fared. Representatives from the IAA contacted me in Texas and offered their support and assistance to keep the project going. While only a couple of New Orleans students were able to participate, and we worked with a drastically reduced field budget, we had about 60 students and staff in our inaugural season. The IAA provided extra logistics and reduced costs for supplies, vehicles and buses. Larry Stager and the nearby Ashkelon excavation loaned us the majority of our equipment and tools. Sy Gitin of the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research went beyond his usual role representing American projects in Israel, meeting with and assuring Israeli officials of New Orleans’s viability to support an excavation.

And long-time Albright supporter Norma Dever collected cash contributions from members of the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) to assist us during this period.

My wife and I did not anticipate the collective generosity coming from a group of scholars, let alone archaeologists. I never viewed scholars as uncaring, but I had compartmentalized my life: In one area I did scholarship, in another area I lived my life. There was the world in which professional archaeologists engaged and there was the world where I had my faith, family and home. All of that changed.

We have decided to stay in Grapevine, Texas. I am now at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS). Last fall we launched a new M.A. program in archaeology and Biblical studies.

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In New Orleans faculty and students have returned. Dorms and homes have been gutted and bulldozed. The campus is rebuilt. The Center for Archaeological Research at New Orleans is still a part of the Gezer project and is actively seeking to fill my former position.

Sam Wolff and I were both pleased with the results of our excavation last summer. More than 80 staff members and volunteers took part in our second season at Tel Gezer. The project is now proceeding under the auspices of SWBTS and the IAA.

Scholars will continue to argue about the meaning of archaeological and Biblical data. That is the world of the academy, where rigorous academic debate should be robust. But when it matters most, archaeologists are a kind group—a community of compassionate scholars. I have the data to prove it.

BAR columnists usually address some aspect of the archaeological enterprise—a discussion of field methods, current trends or a personal account of a life in archaeology. Often, a columnist will discuss whether there is such a discipline as Biblical archaeology and, if so, whether it is alive, dead or limping along. Articles in BAR sometimes give the impression that our field is polarized, with scholars constantly lining up in opposition to one another. But I would like to present a personal view of archaeologists that is not often seen in the public forum—and to offer a public thanks to the […]