BARlines

010

Editor’s Apology

This is a personal apology from the editor of BAR to Avraham Perevolotsky, co-author of an article in the July/August 1985 BAR titled “The Southern Sinai Exodus Route in Ecological Perspective,” BAR 11:04. Dr. Perevolotsky’s first name was incorrectly printed as Aviram instead of Avraham. I subsequently tried to find out how that happened but was unsuccessful.

Dr. Perevolotsky’s co-author, Israel Finkelstein wrote another article for BAR, “Shiloh Yields Some, But Not All, of Its Secrets,” BAR 12:01. I saw this as an opportunity to correct the error we had made in Dr. Perevolotsky’s first name: In describing an article that Dr. Finkelstein previously wrote for BAR we would mention his co-author, Avraham Perevolotsky. That is the way the text of “Inside BAR” was written.

In the final check of the January/February issue, just before it went to press, our careful proofreaders caught what they thought was an error: Perevolotsky’s first name appeared as Avraham, not Aviram. They checked the name against the July/August 1985 issue, confirming what they had thought was an error—and naturally changed Avraham to Aviram.

So we have now compounded the error.

Our profound apologies to Dr. Avraham Perevolotsky.

God only knows how these words I am writing will appear in print!—Ed.

Tel Yarmouth Seeks Volunteers

Yarmouth, about 12 miles west of Bethlehem, was one of five Amorite cities defeated by Joshua (Joshua 10). Founded at the beginning of the third millennium B.C., it was one of the earliest and largest cities in Israel in the Early Bronze Age (c. 3200–2300 B.C.).

In previous excavation seasons, archaeologists have unearthed a number of outstandingly well-preserved Early Bronze Age structures (one may be a temple), one of the largest fortfication systems ever discovered in the Levant from this period, and a monumental city gate.

Volunteers willing to stay at least two weeks will live in a tent camp; the cost is not known as we go to press. Academic credit is not offered.

For more information, contact Pierre de Miroschedji, Director, Tel Yarmouth Archaeological Expedition, P.O. Box 547, Jerusalem 91004, Israel. Tel: (02) 248–788 or (02) 221–982.

Working Model Kilns Available

Clay was the most versatile material of antiquity. It could be turned, molded and then baked into statues, jars, bowls, writing tablets and a myriad of other serviceable objects. Anyone with an interest in Biblical archaeology may at some time have wanted to try to work with the clay of the Holy Land as the ancient potters once did. Well, now’s your chance. Archaeologists in Israel, under the direction of Gershon Edelstein, have constructed a model of a Middle Bronze II B (1750–1550 B.C.) kiln found near Jerusalem at Tel Ridan. Made from raw material from nearby Ein Yael, the kiln is on a scale of 1:10 and has been successfully fired.

Working models are now being sold for educational purposes. These models come with clay, kiln instructions and samples of pottery of the Middle Bronze II B period.

The cost will be from $800 to $1,000, depending on the number of units ordered and does not include shipping charges. The 011package weighs approximately 180 pounds.

For further information, contact Gershon Edelstein, Ramot Alon 416, Apt. 3, Jerusalem, Israel.

Future projects include constructing a life-size kiln at Ein Yael and developing working models of ovens of different periods that can be used for cooking and breadbaking.

Dahood Memorial Prize Won by Ronald S. Hendel

The 1985 Dahood Memorial Prize was awarded to Ronald S. Hendel. While a graduate student in Near Eastern languages and civilization at Harvard University, Hendel wrote his doctoral dissertation on the assigned topic “Parallel Themes in the Ugaritic Epic Poem and the Hebrew Bible.”

Hendel now teaches in the Department of Religious Studies at Southern Methodist University. He delivered his prize-winning paper in November at a session chaired by Professor David Noel Freedman at the Society for Biblical Literature (SBL) annual meetings in Anaheim, California (see “BARview: Israel’s Turn at the Annual Meeting”).

The subject for next year’s Dahood Prize is “The Impact of Ugaritic on Old Testament Studies.” The competition is open to qualified junior faculty and graduate students who were under 40 on December 31, 1985. Entrants must be recommended by an established senior scholar and must hold or be in the final stages of completing a Ph.D. or its equivalent. The deadline for the submission of manuscripts is March 20, 1986. Papers will be evaluated by a committee consisting of Frank Moore Cross of Harvard University, Patrick D. Miller of Princeton Theological Seminary, Marvin H. Pope of Yale University and David Noel Freedman of the University of Michigan. The winning paper will be presented at the annual SBL meeting in November in Atlanta, Georgia.

For further information, write to Professor David Noel Freedman, Program of Studies in Religion, 445 W. Engineering Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.

The Dahood competition, which includes a cash prize of $1,000, was established as an incentive for young scholars. It honors Mitchell Dahood, a distinguished Ugaritic scholar who taught at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome until his death in 1982.

Editor’s Apology