Hands-on class in biblical archaeology

Six Yeshiva University students stepped back in time this summer, to around the year 3080, during the rule of King Yehoash of Judah.

The students from Stern and Yeshiva Colleges worked alongside archaeologists for three weeks during a Biblical archaeology course affiliated with Bar Ilan University that began on July 4th and ended on July 23rd. The three-credit course, in its fifth year, brings students to the Philistine town of Gath, now known as Tell es-Safi, about 20 kilometers north of Kiryat Gat, halfway between Jerusalem and Ashkelon.

“They learn about the past in lectures and field trips,” explained Professor Aren Maeir, director of the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project and professor of biblical and ancient near eastern archaeology. “It’s not just pushing wheelbarrows and pushing dirt. We want them to experience, remember, cherish and learn about the past.”

“It gives the students a chance to do original research and fieldwork,” said Dr. Jill Katz, an adjunct lecturer at Yeshiva University who teaches the course. “I hope the students enjoy the thrill of discovery,” she said.

After some training, students become involved in all facets of the work at the site, including digging, surveying, washing, sorting and studying pottery. The course includes trips to other archaeological and historical sites and museums and “general, specific and technological” lectures such as carbon dating, analyzing bones and recording data.

The course information includes such recommendations as the best type of trowel for digging, the right clothing, application of sunscreen, drinking adequate water, and what books to bring. Work begins weekdays at 6 am, breaks for breakfast at 9 am and ends for the day at 1 pm. “They’re eating more breakfast than before,” noted Katz. Gath is known as the hometown of Goliath who threatened the Jews under King Saul and was killed by David in the Book of Samuel.

Archaeological evidence of life in Gath was found from the Chalcolithic period, fifth millennium BCE continuously until 1948. The current excavation is yielding extensive finds and artifacts from the ninth century BCE when Eretz Yisrael was separated into the northern Israelite and southern Judean kingdoms. Remains showing destruction and a unique trench more than five meters deep on three sides of the city point to the siege and capture of Gath by King Chazael of Aram as mentioned in Kings II 12:18.

Other students and archaeological programs from Australia, England and Canada also worked at the 100-acre site this summer; about 120 people in all. The students “experience the human side,” said Maeir, meeting people with “extraordinary backgrounds, different religions and get along, respect each other. They go home enriched.”

Maeir pointed out evidence of a temple, metal production, private houses and agriculture at the Tell. “We are trying to build a robust picture of everyday life, showing ties to historical events and hints to the Bible,” he explained.

The program, Katz said, “adds to their education” since there is no archaeology major at YU. She said that the students have a “terrific time and appreciate Shabbat more than ever. They have a wonderful attitude, are hard working, do good meticulous work and are very excited.” So far the students have found a tremendous amount of pottery and a team from the Weizmann Institute is doing “residue, chemical analysis” on the pottery and radiocarbon dating on olive pits found there.

Daniel Zelkowitz, a student from Hillcrest, found three loom weights. “I have gone in just a week from looking at the ground and seeing dirt to looking at the ground and seeing a myriad of signs, colors, shards, and textures which can help us to get a grasp of what exactly was going on in those ruins thousands of years ago,” he wrote in an email.

“They are learning that archaeology is a scientific endeavor with a real methodology,” wrote Katz in an email. “They are learning all aspects of the excavating and gaining a better understanding of how the evidence is interpreted. They are learning how to be part of a large research team and how the disparate aspects come together to form a unified whole.” She also noted that the students are learning “a lot” of biblical history and appreciate that they are exploring a First Temple-era site.

For more information or to volunteer go to www.dig-gath.org or read a blog at gath.wordpress.com.