The following call for applications for the 2009 field school in archaeological science (see reports on last year’s field school, here and here, and general information here), to be held as part of the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project’s upcoming season has been published.

Here is a nice picture of the archaeological science field school as it looks in the excavation area and how it is integrated into the regular field work of the project
fig_1

And here’s a picture of some of the field office lab facilities in which results are analyzed in the afternoon/evening, after the day’s work in the field
fig_2

See below for the full text of the call:

Call for applicants for participation in the course
“Field school on archaeological science”
(For students who are registered in universities outside Israel)

The course “Field school on archaeological science” is offered by The Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Bar-Ilan University, and the Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. Registered students will participate in the excavation of the Biblical site Tell es-Safi, identified with Philistine Gath. The purpose of the course is to expose the students to interdisciplinary research that involves archaeology and the natural sciences, in the field. The students will experience interactive work that combines excavation and analysis of materials using an on-site laboratory. The course will emphasize the inter-connection between laboratory analyses and the archaeological context, and will include fieldwork, laboratory work, and lectures.

The course will take place between July 12th and 17th, 2009. Accommodation and food will be supplied by the excavation organizers at Kibbutz Revadim. The cost for students who are not registered at Bar-Ilan University is $400 per week. The Kimmel Center will cover the costs for two weeks for the most qualified student (one scholarship only). Applicants with little or no archaeological experience must participate in one week of excavations at Tell es-Safi/Gath between July 5th and 10th, 2009. An option for participation in a supervised one week project at the site is available between July 19th and 24th, 2008 upon confirmation with the course organizers.

The course is worth 2 US academic credits. Students interested in receiving the credit will have to pay an additional sum of $200 to Bar-Ilan University.

Course organizers and their fields of expertise:
Prof. Steve Weiner (WIS): mineralogical analyses, phytoliths, site formation processes
Dr. Elisabetta Boaretto (BIU and WIS): radiocarbon dating, materials analysis
Dr. Ehud Weiss (BIU and WIS): paleoethnobotany
Dr. Ruth Shahack-Gross (BIU and WIS): geoarchaeology, micromorphology

Applications are limited for students from third year undergraduates through Masters and doctoral studies. The best 10 students will be selected. Applications should include one paragraph explaining why the student is interested in participating in this course, CV, list of grades and two names of referees, and sent no later than March 1st 2009 to:
Dr. Elisabetta Boaretto
Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science
Weizmann Institute of Science
Rehovot 76100
Israel
E-mail: Elisabetta.Boaretto@Weizmann.ac.il