Group of bloggers and journalists at Safi for a short visit and dig

Yesterday (Sept. 11), a very interesting group visited the tell. This was a small group of bloggers and journalists, who mostly deal with travel-related issues (but not only), were invited to Israel by a very impressive group of Bar-Ilan University students for a program (which as called “Dig Israel”) to show some well-read bloggers and journalists sides of Israel that too often do not get enough exposure in the media, and in particular, aspects that are attractive to those interested in travel and tourism. These students raised the money and coordinated the activities in a very impressive way.

The group included:

Alvin Lim, a blogger from Singapore who has one of the most well-read blogs in the world on food and travel.

Jacqueline DesForges, an American travel writer/blogger, who writes for Vagabundo Magazine.

Ilona Melkyuti – a well-known TV, internet and radio journalist from Hungary, with a weekly radio show.

Jane Borden, an American author and journalist – who among others, freelances with the New York Times and Vanity Fair.

Trishna Patel, an American journalist who among others is a correspondent of an important travel website.

Rob Lloyed, a Canadian travel blogger, who runs a popular travel blog.

Keszegh Bela – a radio journalist from Slovakia, who hosts a popular radio show, founding of a popular news portal in Slovakia.

This very interesting group came yesterday for a brief visit to Tell es-Safi/Gath. During the visit we (Amit, Shira, Merav and yours truly) hosted them, explained to them about the site and what we do, and then they got a chance to excavate a little, in one of the squares in Area D.

What can I say – they had a great time! Not only did they have a chance to get the feeling (at least briefly) of what an excavation is like, they were particularly fortunate since in the 2 and half hours that they excavated – they uncovered two complete bowls! Talk about an exciting find for first time excavators – but then again, this is almost expected if you work in Area D…

Here is a clip of my initial explanation to them about the site and what we do (and see the nice analogy of archaeology as time traveling…)

And here is a bunch of pictures from the day:

Amit explaining to the group how to dig

A picture of the group digging

Part of the group sifting sediments (“dirt”) – looking for small finds

And a clip of the sifting – and that’s Rob on the left

Here is Jane Borden and one of BIU student organizers smiling next to the two bowls that they just uncovered

And this is a short clip of their work

This is a great picture of Alvin holding one of the just uncovered complete bowls

And the entire group, including all, at the end of the short dig!

Will this short experience at the tell be the highlight of their visit? :-)

Aren