Day 1 - July 8,2007

Today we got the tour of the site and I can hardly believe I am here!  I actually walked among a real archaeological excavation and saw with my own eyes and felt with my own hands real shards of pottery strewn all over the tell!  It is both intoxicating and emotionally overwhelming to say the least.  But I will do my best to bring you along with me on this journey.

During the day the participants began filtering in and in the afternoon we went on the aforementioned tour where Prof. Aren Maier gave a summary of the history of the site (Tell es-Safi/Gath) and of the excavation project.  I was amazed at how large the entire tell was and how far apart the various dig areas are from one another.  I had pictured them to be within a stone’s throw, but they are quite far away from each other along some pretty steep terrain.  In other words, it’s HUGE.  When we arrived back at the kibbutz (the place we are staying) and after supper, Prof. Maier gave a lecture which went into more detail of the summary we received on site.  He explained some of the biblical and geopolitical relevance of Gath through the centuries, as well as some of the significant finds that have been discovered since they began digging.

I can’t wait to get started tomorrow and begin the exciting (and arduous) work of discovery.  I am looking forward to seeing exactly which area I will be working in and with whom.  However the bus leaves at 5:25 am, so I better get to bed.  But I know what I’ll be dreaming about tonight because I’m living it.