2016 Field Season Day Three

Tracy Hoffman June 7, 2016

Grid 51 is going to the dogs. Really. As excavation of the street running along the east baulk of the grid resumed today, volunteers uncovered a dog burial.

A dog burial found in a Persian period street

Elsewhere in the grid it was another day of cleaning which meant taking the dirt up and out to the dump.

Yesterday afternoon, staff and volunteers started sorting through the containers taking inventory of the objects collected during 30 years of excavation. As might be expected, there was a lot to go through. In fact, there was enough that staff and volunteers will be doing it again today.

Sorting through objects in the pottery compound

2016 Field Season Day Two

Tracy Hoffman June 6, 2016

Things got off to a better start today with no flat tires to change.

It was another day of cleaning, getting systems in place, updating technology, and introducing volunteers to the afternoon session in the pottery compound.

The season is in full swing, the sun is hot, and we are making progress.

2016 Field Season Day One

Tracy Hoffman June 5, 2016

Volunteers and staff were up bright and early this morning -- even before the sun -- as the 2016 field season got underway. The wake up call came at 4:30 am and the bus left for the site at 5:00 am. It was a fast start to the day.

After picking up the necessary tools, volunteers headed out for their first day of digging. The first day is all about cleaning and volunteers spent the morning "cleaning the dirt." Everyone took a break for field breakfast at 9:00 and then it was back to work. At 11:00 volunteers broke for fruit break, a short 15 minute period to relax, refill water bottles, and find out how quickly they could fall asleep. (Then, of course, they needed to decide whether a 15 minute nap was a good or a bad thing.)

Work wrapped up at 1:00 and then it was back to the hotel for a shower, lunch, a welcome meeting and then, at long last, free time. Until tomorrow, when everyone wakes up and does it all over again.

The 2016 field season has started and it promises to be a fun one. Check back for regular updates on our progress.

2016 Preseason Day 3

Tracy Hoffman June 4, 2016

It's going to be a hot one today. 100+ degree temperature in the forecast. It's the perfect welcome for volunteers arriving today. The first shuttle heads to Ben Gurion this morning and then a second one goes up this afternoon. Once in Ashkelon, volunteers will have the afternoon and evening to relax (and try to stay awake) ahead of a 4:30 am wake up tomorrow morning. The 2016 season starts tomorrow!

2016 Preseason Day 2

Tracy Hoffman June 3, 2016

The pottery compound is buzzing.

Discussing the number of keys to be made.

GIS gets ready to head out for a day of surveying

Organizing the registrar's supplies and equipment

Today there are trips to the airport to pick up staff members, errands in town to buy supplies, and the organization of tools. We are only one day away from the season's start!

2016 Preseason Day 1

Tracy Hoffman June 2, 2016

We are in Ashkelon.

It's warm and sunny today as more and more staff members arrive ahead of the volunteers who come in on Saturday. We have a busy couple of days ahead of us as the GIS team gets everything surveyed, as computers are updated and prepared for the season, and as we descend on the wonderful Leonardo Hotel.

It was a busy offseason in the park where a number of new projects got under way. On the North Tell, the Parks Authority received funding for the restoration of a mosaic the expedition excavated in the 1990s.

Mosaic south of the gate on the North Tell

Near the center of the site, the IAA, in cooperation with the Parks Authority, has started excavating the basilica which is one of the first steps in the restoration program for the bouleuterion.

Tomorrow we'll be in the compound organizing tools, preparing supervisor bags, getting registration set up and working to make sure Sunday morning, Day 1, goes as smoothly as possible. The 2016 field season is here.

360 view of Tel Shimron

Webmaster May 26, 2016

Post from RICOH THETA. - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

The Ashkelon 2016 season starts in less than two weeks, but some staff members are already in Israel conducting surveys of Tel Shimron. This is the last year of digging at Ashkelon and staff will excavate Tel Shimron next year, summer 2017. You can catch a glimpse of Daniel Master, Tracy Hoffman and Rebecca Dutton (learn more about the staff) enjoying the beautiful view of the Jezreel Valley.

2016 Offseason Week 9

Tracy Hoffman May 8, 2016

The season is almost upon us and next week I'll be blogging from Israel! This weekend is for packing and getting everything in order. After almost twenty years of excavating at Ashkelon the process of packing is quick and easy. For those of you coming for the first time, it might be a little more time consuming. Check here for more on what to bring with you, what you can find in Ashkelon, and a general overview of the season.

This season promises to be an exciting one. See you there!

2016 Offseason Week 18

Tracy Hoffman May 1, 2016

Today we share some "people shots" and photos of two grids in their early days. Check back next week for more on how to prepare for Ashkelon and what's happening in our final season.

One aspect of dig life that never changes is the ability, or, in fact, the need to sleep whenever the opportunity presents itself. By the end of the first week of excavation, volunteers and staff alike are adept not only at finding objects in the ground, but also at finding time to catch up on much needed sleep. How many different ways can you fall asleep in the field?

Countless.

2016 Offseason Week 17

Tracy Hoffman April 24, 2016

Spring is blooming.

With the arrival of spring, it's almost time to decide what will be on the final dig t-shirt.

The first members of the staff to leave for Ashkelon head over in three weeks! They'll be preparing for the season and working on publication projects. What will we uncover in Ashkelon this summer?

2016 Offseason Week 16

Tracy Hoffman April 17, 2016

During the 2000 field season excavation continued in Grid 23 where a rare coin depicting Cleopatra was found.

Work also continued in Grid 51 as archaeologists continued to expose and excavate more of the Persian and Hellenistic cities.

On the North Tell, excavation of the Gate complex was complete but restoration work was ongoing.

The Gate standing inside and looking to the north

After the 2000 field season there were several more field seasons but none were on the scale of the early years. In 2004, the team focused on Grid 38 in an effort to finish the excavation of the Philistine levels.

In 2007 the team returned again for a study season and in 2008 full-scale excavation of the site resumed.

2016 Offseason Week 15

Tracy Hoffman April 10, 2016

During the 1999 field season, work in Grid 38 continued to explore Philistine Ashkelon.

Excavation also continued in Grids 50 and 51.

1999 saw the opening of a new grid on the North Tell, Grid 23. Work in this area uncovered a complex sequence of domestic occupation.

2016 Offseason Week 14

Tracy Hoffman April 3, 2016

Applications are due Wednesday, April 6th. Get yours in today.

2016 Offseason Week 13

Tracy Hoffman March 27, 2016

During the 1998 field season the goal in Grid 38 was to continue excavating the Philistine city.

As always, Grid 38 produced a wealth of material culture including a hoard, seen below, with remnants of a linen bag preserved.

Excavation continued in Grid 51 where more of the Byzantine period was uncovered.

On the North Tell, excavators worked to continue clearing the moat and expose more of a mudbrick retaining wall associated with the Middle Bronze Age fortifications.

Just inside the gate, archaeologists discovered a much later building with an elaborate mosaic floor.

The first group of supervisors heads over to Ashkelon in seven weeks. Preparations for the season are well under way. There is still time to get your application in to join us for our final season. What will we discover this year?

2016 Offseason Week 12

Tracy Hoffman March 20, 2016

There is still time to submit your applications for the 2016 field season. Join us for all or part of the season including a special week of events from July 4th - 10th.

During the 1996 field season, Grids 2, 38 and 50 again continued to be the main areas of excavation.

By the start of the 1997 season, the gate was roofed and protected.

The 1997 season was the first season in Grid 51. Excavation in 1997 encountered extensive Islamic period pitting and trenching as well as the remains of an earlier Byzantine period structure.

Grid 38, which long had some of the tightest most complex stratigraphy on site, was the training ground for the excavation of mudbrick architecture.

2016 Offseason Week 11

Tracy Hoffman March 13, 2016

Signs of spring are everywhere in Ashkelon. The site was visited by several staff members recently and they sent back these pictures.

A fox has taken up residence on top of the containers in the Pottery Compound.

Grid 32, which was excavated for a single season in 2014, is overgrown with wild flowers.

The first group of supervisors heads over in two months and the 2016 field season is right around the corner. There is still time to submit a volunteer application. The deadline to apply is April 6th. There is also time to submit your stories and photos as we look to commemorate the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon.

Coming to Israel this summer? There will be a week long series of events from July 3rd through the 10th. Tours, lectures and a special event at the Rockefeller highlight the week's activities.

2016 Offseason Week 10

Tracy Hoffman March 6, 2016

Want to be a part of the festivities in Israel? The week of July 3 will be a week of special activities celebrating Ashkelon and 30 years of the Leon Levy Expedition. Former volunteers are invited to join current staff and volunteers for five days of digging (7/4-7/8). In addition to the opportunity to dig, the week will include special lectures and tours of the site. On July 7th there will be a party in the park. Finally, all are invited to Jerusalem and the Rockefeller Museum on July 10th for the opening of a special exhibit on Ashkelon.

Please contact us at info@digashkelon.com for more information.

2016 Offseason Week 9

Tracy Hoffman February 28, 2016

Join us July 3rd through 11th for a week long celebration of Ashkelon and the Leon Levy Expedition. There will be excavating and tours, a cookout in the park and more. Details will be announced shortly once the schedule is finalized.

Want to volunteer and join us for a half or full season? There is still time. Applications are due April 6th.

2016 Offseason Week 8

Tracy Hoffman February 21, 2016

During the 1995 field season, Grids 2, 38 and 50 continued to be the main areas of excavation.

Grid 50 grew in size and was split into Grid 50 North and Grid 50 South. Work during the season investigated Ashkelon prior to the 604 destruction.

In Grid 38, archaeologists excavated the Iron Age city. The situla found during the previous season underwent conservation during the offseason. The results were impressive. Today, they are on display in the Israel Museum.

On the North Tell, excavation continued to reveal more of the gate and Middle Bronze Age ramparts.

2016 Offseason Week 7

Tracy Hoffman February 14, 2016

The 1994 field season was another one of fascinating discoveries.

Section of masonry talus and fallen tower on North Tell — Section of masonry *talus* and fallen tower on North Tell

The Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon