Archaeology Dig 2007: Tell Es-Safi/Gath

Focus on the Field School

The Tell es-Safi/Gath field school will be held this year between July 8-August 3, 2007. Project director Aren Maeir sent this description along today.

The Site

Tell es-Safi/Gath (Hebrew Tel Tsafit), Israel, is a commanding mound located on the border between the Judean foothills (the Shephelah) and the coastal plain (Philistia), approximately halfway between Jerusalem and Ashkelon. At about 100 acres in size, it is one of the largest and most important pre-Classical period archaeological sites in Israel. Tell es-Safi is identified as Canaanite and Philistine Gath (known from the Bible as the home of Goliath and Achish) and Crusader Blanche Garde. The site was inhabited continuously from the Chalcolithic period (5th millennium BCE) until 1948 CE.

The Project

Since 1996 a team of archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology at Bar Ilan University, under the direction of Prof. Aren M. Maeir, has been digging at Tell es-Safi. The first decade of the project (1996-2006) has demonstrated the great importance of the site. Major finds include: 1) A 9th century BCE destruction layer with extraordinarily rich remains; 2) An unique siege trench, dating to the Iron Age, that surrounds the site, apparent evidence of an Aramaic siege of the site (see II Kings 12:18); 3) A rich stratigraphic sequence covering the Early Bronze III through Iron Ages (ca. 26th-8th centuries BCE); 4) A rich representation of the material culture of the Philistines, arch-enemies of the biblical-period Israelites; 5) Fascinating inscriptions from various periods, including Canaanite, Egyptian and Philistine (including the so-called "Goliath Inscription").

The Program

All able and willing people of university age or older are invited to join us for a unique and exciting experience uncovering the history and culture of the Holy Land. In addition to participating in all facets of the excavation process, participants will be provided with an opportunity to learn techniques of field archaeology, gain experience in remote sensing applications in archaeology, hear lectures about the archaeology of Israel, and go on field trips to nearby sites of historical/archaeological and/or contemporary interest. Participants will join a young, vivacious team comprised of staff, students and volunteers from Israel and the world-over. Students can earn either 3 or 6 university credits through Bar-Ilan University, the second largest university in Israel. Accommodations (including kosher food) will be provided at idyllic Kibbutz Revadim, a short drive from the site. Rooms (4-6 persons per room; single and double rooms available at extra charge) are air-conditioned and there will be access to the Kibbutz pool. And don't forget the weekly Thursday evening, Bar-B-Que!

Workday (more or less)

The excavation day is between 6am to 1 pm. The afternoons will include various excavation related processes (such as pottery reading) and occasional tours. Evenings will have occasional lectures. We work Sunday to Friday (not Friday afternoon).

Prices

Volunteers: US $350 per week, 2 week minimum, or US $1350 for entire 4 weeks (plus US $25 registration fee). Price includes room and board for the entire week, daily transportation to site and back, and various dig-related activities. Does not include transportation to Israel, and to and from the Base camp, as well as health and accident insurance. Students can receive three university credits for the half program (add $500) and six for the full program ($1000).

Contact Information

For application forms and further information, please contact Prof. Aren M. Maeir, The Institute of Archaeology The Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel. Fax: ++972-3-6354941. Email: maeira@mail.biu.ac.il.

• Tell es-Safi/Gath Project Web Site
• Tell es-Safi/Gath Project Blog
• More on the Goliath Inscription
• Archaeology Dig 2007
• More Focus on the Field School
• Field Schools in Middle and Near East 2007
• Archaeology of Israel