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After writing a lengthy, very funny, and quite cynical reaction to Hershel Shanks' claims against me, I showed it to some more level-headed people, who wisely suggested that I write a professional and matter-of-fact reaction. Yes, I know, this is not as interesting and fun, but yes, occasionally, one does have to “grow up” and act as a mature adult. So, below is the reaction that I will be sending to BAR – we have to see if it will be published!
Aren
Recently (in an editorial in Biblical Archaeology Review May/June 2006, p. 4), Hershel Shanks has accused me of refusing to let the public see the recently found “Goliath Inscription,” and that, in effect, I am hiding it from the public, only showing it at an occasional “peep show” (such as the ASOR conference). I find this claim to be quite amusing! Pictures and discussions of this inscription were published in many venues throughout the world (and it appears on the project website – www.dig-gath.org and on the project “blog” http://gath.wordpress.com). I personally provided Mr. Shanks a high quality picture of the inscription (along with permission to publish it), which was subsequently published in Biblical Archaeology Review (March/April 2006, p. 16). In his editorial, Mr. Shanks complained that I did not provide him with a line drawing of the inscription for publication in Biblical Archaeology Review. A line drawing of the inscription, along with the comprehensive results of the relevant stratigraphic, architectural and typological analysis of the inscription, the related finds and their context, will be published in a forthcoming scientific publication, which should be appearing within the coming year. At the same time, I am committed to ongoing “outreach” to the lay public and I will continue to do this in the future.
Yesterday, I received the latest issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, in which Hershel Shanks, in the opening editorial, accuses me of acting improperly, since I did not provide a line drawing of the "Goliath Inscription" for publication in BAR. He then goes on to talk about how archaeologists are horrible creatures, hiding their finds from the public.
Clearly, I don't agree with him (not for the first time …)!
Have no fear – a response will soon appear! AND, I will have fun writing it! :-)
Aren
The Tell es-Safi/Gath blog received a short, but very positive mention in the "Samarkeolog" blog, a fascinating blog that deals with human rights, heritage, archaeology and a long list of very interesting and important topics.
Our blog was noted for "both for its community archaeology methodology and for its (wider) outreach education through the blog."
Much appreciated!
Aren
Quite a few of the posts on the blog (especially the "weekly finds") have been written by Joe Uziel, even if he did not always ID himself. Since it has been asked, I would like to introduce him:
Joe is a PhD student at Bar-Ilan University, who is writing his PhD on the MB II of the Southern Coast of Palestine (based, among others, on the finds from Yavneh Yam and Tel Nagila). In addition, he has been on the Tell es-Safi/Gath staff for many years, and among other things, has been an area supervisor in Area E, directed the later years of the surface survey of the tell (which was his MA thesis and subsequently, which we published jointly in the journal Tel Aviv 32/1[2005]:50-75), and in recent years, has served as director of the project laboratory.
He is also a great guy, even though he does drink to much coffee …
Best,
Aren
I know its been more than a week since I’ve contributed to the blog, but with the week of excavation and the Holidays, I just haven’t had the time. anyway, Aren has been doing a great job keeping everyone updated, so its not like you’ve missed much. I thought I would get back to the weekly find corner that I began a while back. this week’s find is a special group of pottery, which in the past has been called “Ashdod Ware”, but more recently was renamed Late Philistine Decorated Ware – LPDW. A few of the team members published an extensive article on this family of vessels in BASOR.
Coming out of Passover (and finally, back to bread … :-)), I wanted to mention an interesting find from the excavation. In the Jewish tradition, it is customary to read the Song of Songs (Canticles) on the Sabbath that falls within the week of Passover (and now you are saying to yourself – what does this have to do with Tell es-Safi/Gath!? patience grasshopper …).
In the Song of Songs 2:5 it reads (KJV): “Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.” “Flagons” is the KJVs translation of the Hebrew ashishot, which nowadays is usually more correctly translated as “raisin cakes.” This word is quite rare in the Bible, appearing only 3 other times (see, in particular Hosea 3:1).
Now I do realize that the Song of Songs is one of the latest books in the Bible (most probably of Hellenistic date), but, nevertheless, one can see in this passage (and in many other parts of the book), distinct realia of biblical times. A possible hint to this may perhaps have been found in our excavations.
I just was made aware of another function that Tell es-Safi/Gath serves to the public! Debi Cassuto (who is a staff member of our team, and was our registrar in the 2005 season [and hopefully in the 2006 season as well]) pointed out to me that the Tell is used for star-gazing by the Weizmann Institute "Young at Science" youth eductional program. This actually makes great sense, since Tell es-Safi/Gath if one of the highest and relatively isolated locations in central Israel. Just as there is a great view of the entire southern coastal Plain and the Judean foothills (and beyond), so, the view to the sky is great as well. I think it is time to start selling entrance tickets … :-)
Aren
Happy Pesach (Passover) and/or Easter to you all!
Being the first opportunity I have had in the last week to sit down and write something for the blog, I thought that it would be nice to write about a small, but very interesting find that we had several seasons ago.
Several seasons ago, Dr. Oren Ackermann, the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project’s Geomorphologist, excavated a small pit to the east of Area E on the tell, to check the history of a stone terrace wall. As he begun the excavations, mere inches below surface, he came upon part of a figurine (actually, the upper half). As it turns out, this is a very interesting, a to a large extent unique figurine. The figurine was discussed in an article that I published in 2003 (Maeir, A.M. 2003. A Late Bronze Age, Syrian-Style Figurine from Tell es-Sâfi/Gath. Pp. 197–206 in Shlomo; Studies in Epigraphy, Iconography, History and Archaeology in Honor of Shlomo Moussaieff, ed. R. Deutsch. Tel Aviv-Jaffa: Archaeological Center), but since it was published in a rather obscure volume, I thought it would be interesting to summarize the discussion and significance of the figurine.
A very positive review of the Tell es-Safi/Gath blog appeared in the CSA Newsletter, written by Jack Cheng. I’m glad to see that Mr. Cheng seems to have “hit the nail on the head” regarding the ideas behind the blog. Needless to say (:-)), I very much appreciate his kind and positive comments!!
Aren
Although this has nothing to do with Tell es-Safi/Gath, in preparation for the Passover Seder, I have been reading various studies of the Seder and its development. I can but highly recommend the excellent study and overview on the topic by J. Kulp (2005) "The Origins of the Seder and Haggadah" that appeared in Currents in Biblical Research 4/1: 109-134. This is an excellent review of much of the recent research along with judicious evaluations of the various topics.
An online version (for those who have access) can be found at: http://cbi.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/4/1/109
And by the way, don't eat too much Matzah – it's unhealthy …. :-)
Aren
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