Safi Field School Continues!

Our Safi field school’s second week was even more intense than the first, if that is possible! This week, the Bar-Ilan/Weizmann Institute of Science “science and archaeology” field school got into full swing, and provided most of our evening lectures. On Sunday, Prof. Steve Weiner of WIS, who is the team’s director, gave an overview on “Durable Remains in Archaeology”. On Monday, it was Dr. Sariel Shalev of WIS, on Identification of Metals. On Tuesday, Bar-Ilan’s Dr. Ruth Shahack-Gross gave us a microscopic view of archaeology. Next, Dr. Elisabetta Boaretto, also from Bar-Ilan, spoke about radiocarbon dating, and on Thursday, Dr. Ehud Weiss (also Bar-Ilan) explained the whats and whys of Archaeobotany (that’s finding and identifying plant remains in archaeology). All five lectures were fascinating and attracted a large, if bleary-eyed, audience. We’re all really sorry not to have them with us for the remaining two weeks.

Besides all that, we also had a visit by Dr. Daniel Master of Wheaton College, who has replaced Prof. Larry Stager as director of the ongoing excavations at our sister Philistine city of Ashkelon. Despite some projector problems, which were overcome by gathering around laptops, his talk was hugely informative and helped us put some of our own findings into perspective.

And of course, our field trips continued as well. On Monday, we “did” Samson, from the archaeological, literary and folkloristic perspectives. We visited the site of biblical Zorah, Samson’s home. Of course since the tell itself has never been excavated, there are no ancient remains to be seen, but the whole area is full of rock-cut caves, winepresses and other installations from different periods. Most of all, standing there, we could get a good feeling for the geographical situation that the Samson stories are placed in – the Shephelah region as a frontier between Israelites and Philistines, with the Sorek stream serving as the main route up and down between the two areas. From there we visited two present-day “pilgrimage sites”, the supposed tombs of Samson and of his father Manoah, and the supposed tomb of Dan, son of Jacob and ancestor of Samson. We discussed the development of the sites and of the traditions that go along with them. From there, we went to Tel Beth Shemesh, at which we were guided by Jenna Belobersycky, a Bar-Ilan student who is presently digging with the Beth Shemesh team. So brought us up to date on the present state of the excavations there – so much thanks to Jenna.

On Wednesday, we visited Tel Gezer, where we were met by co-director Sam Wolf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, who explained the aims and achievements of the present excavations. Thanks to Sam for taking the time to guide us through the area.

 

The upcoming week will be a little less intense, but still quite full. It will include visits the City of David in Jerusalem and to Tel Lachish, as well as a lecture by Prof. Sy Gittin of the Albright Institute – so stay tuned!

 Yigal