2008

The dig ended with a flourish…two oil lamps in two days. After a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and final farewells, the team is on its way home. The adventure continues next summer starting 5 July.

It is not unusual for last minute finds to surprise a dig team. The end of week three was no exception. The “D (for Destruction) Team” was clearing a pavement to the south of the church complex, when the leader (Darryl Schmidt) call for the director. There on the pavement he had unearthed a bronze Roman (?) incense shovel. We were just five minutes from stopping for the day. Cameras worked overtime as we celebrated this spectacular find.
Of course, the interpretation of the find raises many questions . . . off to the library we go.

With the completion of the second week of excavation, we said good bye to our friends from Canada and to two other volunteers. Thus ended two hectic weeks of excavation. With teams deployed in five areas, we identified a second decumanus for the city, got to the very foundations of the atrium, explored facilities to the east of the church, and began probing what might be under the church complex. To the later questions, we can confidently say, bedrock. There is little evidence of pre-exisiting structures.
But before the departure of our friends, we spent three days in Jordan with a focus on Petra. What a time!

“Eventful” is an overused but accurate word for a week of excavation. Weeds, stones, and soil have yielded to a coin, a pendant, walls, a staircase, column drums, and other mysteries yet to be identified fully.
In all areas we are on or ahead of schedule. We will be opening two new squares (A2 and B5) in the next week.
The team is excellent . . . hard working and fun with new friendships fast forming. The returning veterans are the glue holding the project together, putting in many hours in the lab and well as providing leadership in the field.
For these good people and their good work, I am thankful.

At least four dead, dozens hurt in Jerusalem terror attack – Haaretz – Israel News
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/998294.html

Due to the terrorist attack, the trip to Jerusalem has been canceled. Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem.