NIP

What’s next for the Northeast Insula Project?

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goingdown
Walking down for the last time…

Now that the field work is over, people often ask what I will do now.

Work on the Northeast Insula Project is far from over! The project is shifting from the field work phase to the publication phase. So, I expect to be involved in the Northeast Insula Project for a number of years.

First of all, I will be writing a report on the 2016 season. That report will be submitted to my colleagues at Haifa, along with supporting documentation. I will also post that complete report here under the menu item “Excavation Reports.”

Secondly, I will be reorganizing all the data from the dig over fifteen years and publishing much of that data on this site.  I want anyone interested to be able to see as much detail about the field work as possible. I will also include in this phase copies of all papers I have presented on the excavation (along with the supporting slides).

Lastly, there is the Final Report.  I am not sure at this early stage about the format or the publisher.  But it is so very important for future scholarship to provide a comprehensive discussion of the work of the last decade and a half. And that will happen.

Even though I am no longer in the field, the Northeast Insula Project will be a going concern for a number of years.  And I will also follow closely the work of my colleagues from Haifa and elsewhere on this beautiful mountain overlooking the Sea.

A 15-year partnership

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For fifteen years, Concordia University has been most pleased to partner with the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa on the Hippos Excavations. I am most thankful for the colleagues from Haifa, during the first eleven years with Prof. Arthur Segal and his associate, Michael Eisenberg, and more recently with Dr. Eisenberg and his team, including Arleta and Nofar.

arthur  Michael Etc

These folks from Haifa have been most gracious and supportive, and demonstrate what is possible when institutions cooperate internationally.

I am proud to be part of this project and will miss very much interactions in the field with these colleagues.

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The senior team

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“I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” –Philippians 1:3-6

Farewell

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start

It all began fifteen years ago right here. Arthur Segal showed me a curvature of stones on the surface of a grassy field and invited me to bring a team to work on the Hippos-Sussita Excavations.

last look

Fifteen years later, we have now completed the field portion of the Northeast Insula Project and turn our attention to final analysis and publication.

With some sadness we say “Good bye” to our favorite mountain overlooking the Sea of Galilee and to our many friends with whom we have worked so hard. We leave a piece of our heart on that mountain and pray for peace in this holy land where Jesus walked.

sunset

Finale!

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At 9:30 am this morning, the Concordia team finished their excavation work at Antiochia Hippos in the Sussita National Park, Jordan Valley, Israel. The Northeast Insula Project came to an end.

stop

The team had hit bedrock. They could dig no further.

bedrock

And so we turned to the final task of refilling the fragile water features of the garden. Our work is done.

cover

The team this year consistently outperformed my expectations. It was wonderful to work again with veterans such as Darryl, John, JimJim, Arny, and Glenn . . . my dear friends. My Canadian colleague, Dr. Steve Chambers has been critical to the success of this project. Drs. Michael Dorner and David Kluth have been so important these last two years.

But it is the students — the crazy, jovial, energetic core — that make all the sweat and work and puzzling of archaeology worth while.

kids

To Jordan, Dez, Lawson, Ben, [Emily not pictured] and all my dear ones over the years, thank you!

I pray that, as you have drawn closer to the land of Jesus in this experience, in the same way His love may never depart from you either.

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