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Today we had the last day of the all-too-short spring season at Tell es-Safi/Gath. Although we did not have any additional spectacular cosmological events as yesterday’s eclipse, we did enjoy another fair weather day, managed to finish all the objectives of the season and even have a cookout picnic to end the day!
A flock of sheep (and some goats) going out to pasture next to the Tell
I have been trying to update the blog about the excavation for the last several days, but twice my computer crashed in the middle, so I am only getting to the update now.
View of tell from the east
We have had a very nice week, with the greatest imaginable weather, and, needless to say, the beautiful scenery and green views from the tell and its surroundings. If it was possible to move this weather and greenery to the summer, it would make things a bit easier …
The Safi team working in Area C6 — notice the breathtaking view of the green Elah valley — looking to the NE.
It is quite enjoyable to see how the staff is enjoying themselves so much – it just shows what they prefer – laboratory work to field work! :-)
The Safi staff eagerly looking at the squares at the beginning of one of the work days!
We have been working away very successfully on several aspects during the last few days. Read the rest of this entry »
As I wrote in a post several weeks ago, as of tomorrow morning, we will be starting a short season at the site (from Sunday till Thursday) to work on a limited number of issues. Only members of the permanent staff will be participating, along with a team from the Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science, from the Weizmann Institute, led by Prof. Steve Weiner. The objectives of this short season are: 1) To finish up some unexcavated parts of Area C6 – which is next to the siege system, so that we can wrap up this area and its publication; 2) To start a long-term cooperation with the Kimmel Center, one that will hopefully continue in during the summer of 2006 and in following years; 3) To do some scouting around the site in preparation for the coming season, possibly to mark out new areas for excavation; 4) host various visitors from various environmental agencies, to discuss potential environmental-related projects connected with the excavations.
As the week goes by, I will be updating on what happens.
Aren
A short interview with yours truly, reporting about the excavations and some of the choice finds, has just appeared on the Hebrew website “Miqranet” – a site which is dedicated to present various, mainly pedogogical, materials relating to the Bible.
Enjoy!
Aren
One of the most important tools of the modern archaeologist is the trusty pointed trowel (“don’t leave home without it!”), which is used for various dig-related activities, such as digging, scraping, leveling, straightening balks, collecting loose earth, picking up delicate finds, etc.. At times, it can even be used for cutting a watermelon, doodling in the sand, and other less-proffessionally-oriented activities. In recent decades, the most popular trowel among archaeologists in many countries is the “Marshalltown” trowel, a US made brand.
A Marshalltown trowel and “holster”
This week’s find is the Chalice. The chalice is a unique type of vessel. The chalice is basically a bowl on a tall leg. it is not a very common vessel, although at Tell es-Safi, we have discovered quite a few of them (there are seven complete examples – see three nice examples in the picture – and many more that are only portions of such vessels). There are several general explanations given for the function of the chalice. Some think it was used for ceremonial drinking, sort of like a modern-day wine glass, although the rim of some of these vessels seem to make this unlikely, as it would be quite uncomforable to drink from them. Others suggest it was used to burn incense, which would make sense considering the burn marks that were found on some of our chalices. Another possibility is that it served as a vessel for a cultic offering, in cultic contexts.
Along with the article in Hebrew noted above, today I got a copy of a short article on the “Goliath Inscription,” and the dig in general, that appeared in the French journal “Le Monde de la Bible” Mars-Avril 2006 (no. 170), pp. 49-50 - I have attached scans of the 2 pages.
This is the first page
This is the 2nd page.
Enjoy!
Aren
For those of you who read Hebrew, please note a rather nice, but short article, with great pictures about the dig, that just appeared in the Hebrew nature magazine “Eretz Va-Teva“. I have attached a pdf version of the article.
Eretz va Teva Safi.pdf (please note that for some reason, you have to click on this link twice. Click once, wait, and then click on it again)
Enjoy!
Aren
I thought i would try and give potential future volunteers a reason to come to the dig – Coke!!! Yes that’s right, coke is a good reason to come to the dig. This past summer we had a coke machine. and although the standard price was 3 NIS a can (about 75 cents), some of us were lucky. The machine decided to have a sale sometimes, and gave out varying numbers of coke cans for the price of one. I was the proud holder of the record – getting six cans for the price of one, until at one, one lucky bum broke my record and recieved 12 cans. Funny thing is Jeff, probably the main reason the Coca Cola company is still open, never seemed to hit the jackpot.
You see, most of us don’t drink it in the field, but if you like coke, there’s nothing like an ice cold can after a hard day’s work (well except for maybe a really good ice coffee).
Joe
Today, I visited Tell es-Safi/Gath with a TV crew from the Czech public television. They were filming a documentary about the Israelite judges in the Bible, and wanted to visit Gath of the Philistines as part of the background material. The site, as usual in the winter was all green and covered with flowers. All told, the site was in great shape, there was very little evidence of people coming to poke around in the squares, and besides the fact that many of the sandbags that line the squares were stolen (I always wonder who is the guy that collects these sandbags between seasons – and what does he do with them!!), there is very little damage.
The wheather was great, the view was fantastic, and it was a great change to be out in the open and smell some smogless fresh air. I can’t wait to be out in the field at the end of the month!
Tell es-Safi/Gath during the winter months. Notice the green color and the sheep!
Aren
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