Time to update our resumes--although it would be quite a stretch to have one’s cv read “amateur archaeologist”. Nevertheless, on our ninth day in Israel we set out for Bet Guvrin National Park. This day was circled on the calendar months ago, and when the moment finally arrived, there was electricity in the air. The anticipation was palpable.
Bet Guvrin National Park is 50 km southwest of the City of Jerusalem.
Archaeologist Ian Stern met us at the dig site. It's hard to imagine that Stern--a youthful, medium-build archaeologist sporting a shock of salt and pepper hair under his bucket hat--is celebrating over thirty years of excavating the caves of Maresha. He speedily guided us to a spot beneath the shade of a Carob tree in order to properly introduce us to the region. Picture a pastoral scene of rolling hills, Olive groves harvested by Israeli Bedouin, and thorny semi-steppe brush, as far as the eye could see.
The rolling hills of Maresha provide the backdrop of today’s adventure.
Even a Novice Can Be A Part of an Extraordinary Discovery
As we ventured to the caves, we were surrounded by tented access points and benches erected as places to escape the sun and regroup before going underground. We deposited our belongings and made our way down a ladder to the subterranean excavation site.Archaeologist Ian Stern has the most difficult job of all--teaching teachers.
Dig For a Day Explained - https://youtu.be/EtVefUg-iN0
Here, Stern instructs us in the art and science of archaeology. Because these caves are self-contained and specific to one time period, novices like ourselves can “Dig For a Day”. This is a delicate way of suggesting two key thoughts, namely:
We cannot possibly mess things up… Unless, of course, we get too close to the stabilizing beams of wood supporting the ceilings. That warning, as you see in the short video, provided a bit of comic relief as well as a Stern warning--pardon the pun!
Deeper Learning Through Archaeological Inquiry
We are actually helping to excavate and unearth some pretty remarkable relics of the Ancient Near East. These primary sources from approximately 250 BCE give us extraordinary insight into the daily lives of the inhabitants of this region.
A thrill for all ages--At age 83, expert archaeologist Bernie L. delights in checking out the unique Dionysian figurine that Russell unearthed.
At last, equipped with a pick, trow, and two buckets, we each set off to rediscover the world that once was. One might say that these ancient columbarium caves yielded a bounty of riches. Not the sort of riches that the Israeli Antiquities Authority would publicize in the form of a promotional poster, and certainly not something that would appear in the next issue of the Biblical Archaeology Review, but we encountered artifacts that embody a teacher’s definition of “primary sources: the litter of history”.
In this video, Yonni--a site worker pursuing his degree in Biblical Studies--teaches us about what we can learn from the everyday objects discovered in the excavation process.
Video: Artifacts Discovered in the Caves - https://youtu.be/xFF1ydMp56Y
Hands-On, Inquiry and Exploration
It is thrilling to think that we were digging and sifting through 2,200 year old debris, building materials, cooking implements, and what remains of an ancient society that existed during the time of the Maccabees. To say that this experience and the memories that I'll cherish will inspire and enlighten my teaching practice is an understatement. It is the fulfillment of a childhood dream. It is a testimony to the wisdom and resourcefulness of those who came before us. It is the enduring power of our human history and all that makes us human--our rituals, our art, our culture. It is a celebration of life and a celebration of joyous discoveries.Colleen uncovers a beautiful specimen--a shell used to form water-tight plaster for the cave walls.
Video: Seashells in Judea - Colleen's Discovery https://youtu.be/e_zImE3I-qE
As our time in the cave came to a close, each of us resembled children begging for “just five more minutes” of recess. It was an extraordinary moment. Yet, another unforgettable moment awaited us just around the bend--the infamous bucket-line of the archaeological site.
The twelve of us assembled in a row, from the cave floor to the ground-level door, and on every step and stair in-between. We manually schlepped the rocky debris all the way to the surface. It was exhausting, but personally satisfying. Our work and effort was on full display--and the numerous buckets of dirt needed to be sifted and sorted once more--so that we could make sense of what we might have missed down beneath the surface.
The sifting and sorting process is the necessary final step in processing our site excavation.
Video: Sifting & Sorting the Dig for a Day - https://youtu.be/SeuvF48R0N4
Yonni and I pause for a snapshot inside the cave.
Process-Oriented Learning & Discovery
An archaeologist’s work is process oriented. Much like teaching, it is neither for the faint of heart not the sort of person that must see immediate results. There is very little instant gratification, but the next scoop of dirt just might yield the next big find. Bits of metal, to the untrained eye, might be a rare coin from the Second Temple Period… That potsherd might be part of an earthen vessel containing a papyrus scroll…
Stern shares an interest theory about the political implications of some of the 2,200 year old artifacts.
Video: Archaeology Sheds Light on the Formation of Ethnic & Civil Identities in the Hellenistic Age - https://youtu.be/0t5O9rBPT1c
Archaeology is an art and science build upon discovery and wonder. We can then use the l historical and religious narrative in concert with the artifacts that we found to propose theories and make conjectures about the ancient world. Hopefully this post captures the essence of our “Dig for a Day” so that we may share our joy with you.
Bonus Images - Because we have so much that we want to share with you from our time in Israel!
It tastes like chicken??? There is a very good explanation for that... We toured additional columbarium caves including this one with over 2,000 dovecotes carved into the wall.
Did you know that domesticated chickens existed in Israel hundreds of years before anywhere else?
Maresha is known for its painted caves, too. My particular favorite is the lion. The artist and I share a kindred doodler's spirit--what we lack in terms of artistic accuracy we make up for in terms of creativity and imagination. Awesome possum!
A stunning display of natural beauty, the bell caves of Bet Guvrin National Park.
Avi gets up-close and personal with an olive press. Though not technically a pun, this line amuses me greatly. The sun must be getting to me.
Leaving Israel is just the pits... Now, that's punny!
