A trio of old photos today. Enjoy.
Grid 38
Pottery marking -- the pre-Sharpie way with fingernail polish and ink
Director Larry Stager
2015 Offseason Week 8
In 1986, excavation expanded in Grids 38, 50, and 57, all of which had returned promising results during the 1985 field season. Work was completed on the church in Grid 34/41 and several new areas were opened.
Grid 22
Grid 22 was opened on the edge of the southern end of the North Tell after EB sherds were found in the vicinity. Though excavation did not produce Bronze Age material, it did reveal the remnants of a Byzantine period building and sewer system.
Another new area, Grid 37, was opened to the west of Grid 38 closer to the Mediterranean Sea. Excavation quickly hit a common feature in all the areas excavated at Ashkelon; rubble.
Early days in the excavation of Grid 37
Underneath the rubble, a large building slowly emerged. In the debris of that building, archaeologists discovered one of the most important Islamic period artifacts excavated at Ashkelon.
Published by Miriam Rosen-Avalon in 1991, these two pieces, along with another two found during excavation in 1987, were very fine examples of filigree work.
It wasn't just the new areas that produced interesting results. 1986 marked the arrival of dogs in Ashkelon. During the excavation of Grid 50, the burials of over 30 dogs were discovered. They were to be the first of many -- over 1200 to be exact. The dogs remain one of the most intriguing and debated discoveries at Ashkelon.
2015 Offseason Week 7
Today, we have a picture submitted by Gordy, a volunteer each of the past four seasons at Ashkelon.
"Wheelbarrows can be used for many tasks!"
Can you guess who is in the picture?
2015 Offseason Week 6
The blog is on vacation for a week but I didn't want to leave without posting a couple of pictures of dig life. Below, the North Tell in the early days.
The MB rampart emerging on the North Tell.
Looking south, from the area of the Club Med, towards the MB rampart.
Pictures of Dig Life
One of the most familiar figures on site throughout the season is the dig photographer. Their job is a particularly busy one. The photographer not only takes field and object shots but also people shots during the course of the season. We've started combing through those photos and we're going to share some of what we find this offseason. Recognize yourself? Let us know!
Digging dirt and collecting pottery, 1985
One incredible view, 1998
With all this looking back, it's important to remember we are also looking forward. We have one more season of excavation. Consider joining us in 2016 as we bring the excavation phase of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon project to a close. It promises to be an amazing season.
2015 Offseason Week 4
One of the best moments of each season? Believe it or not, the dig t-shirt reveal. Every season a new object, usually found that same season or sometimes the season before, is selected to be on the annual shirt. (Some of those same objects have made their way into the Israel Museum.)
Every year the shirt is a different color and every year many of the volunteers and staff wear it home to help speed their way through the airport.
Enjoying dessert at the final party
Wearing this season's t-shirt even got the wearer free ice cream or waffles at the final dig party!
Some years, particularly in the 80s and 90s, there were even what we called, "alternate" dig t-shirts, unofficial versions that reflected various projects, or objects, from those seasons. One such example is below.
We'll have to see if we can't "dig up" the old t-shirts and and review some of the objects deemed the best-of-the-best.
2015 Offseason Week 3
In 1985, the expedition opened four grids (excavation areas) as it began the investigation of ancient Ashkelon.
Grid 34/41
In Grid 34/41, excavated for one season, work revealed a church, the existence of which was known from accounts of earlier visitors to the site. Almost immediately, the clearance of rubble revealed some of the church's finest features.
In other areas, it sometimes took a little longer to get to archaeological contexts.
Grid 38
Located on the north slope of the South Tell, Grid 38 didn't look like much when it was first opened. Of course, appearances can be deceiving. Grid 38 was the longest continually excavated area on site, 1985 - 2013. Work in this area uncovered a complex stratigraphic sequence stretching from the Bronze Age to the Islamic period. It also produced some of the most spectacular finds on site some of which are currently on display in the Israel Museum.
Grid 57
Grid 57 was excavated from 1985 - 1990. Located on the west side of the South Tell, it too had a very interesting stratigraphic sequence in which some amazing discoveries were made. One of the most notable? A hoard of silver tetra drachma coins and jewelry found in a destroyed building.
Grid 50
Hands down, the best view on site belonged to those working in Grid 50 which was located on the western edge of the South Tell overlooking the Mediterranean. No shade clothes needed here; the breeze kept things cool and comfortable all day long. Grid 50 was excavated from 1985 - 2000. One of the largest excavation areas on site, it is perhaps most well known for Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of the marketplace found here, as well as the Persian period dog burials.
2015 Offseason Week 2
The team is going through old pictures, dredging up long forgotten stories, and more as we get ready to look back at the long history of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon. With luck, each week during the offseason we'll post a new picture, revisit some of the highlights of each of the seasons, or share whatever comes to mind. Case in point today. Going through some old pictures, I found the one below:
Leonardo Hotel under construction (grey expanse on right)
Unfortunately, the picture isn't dated but it shows a great view of a changing Ashkelon. To the left, condominiums overlooking the marina under construction. To the right, the building housing the Leonardo Hotel, our current home. In the center of the picture towards the back? The Holiday Inn. Today, the entire area is built up with shops and cafes. It is also home to one of the excavation's new favorite places; a top-notch gelato shop.
View north from Leonardo Hotel
Construction has moved well beyond the Leonardo hotel. The beach north of the marina is an Ashkelon hotspot. Another hotel is going up next to the Holiday Inn, and all along the right side of the picture, homes stretching as far as the eye can see.
Things certainly have changed since 1985 when the expedition stayed in a campground in the national park.
Abandoned campground in park
What about the Shulamit, and then Dan, Gardens Hotel where the expedition was housed from 1986 - 2014 (midseason)? Well, it stands empty, its fate not yet determined.
Did you guess the name of the staff member featured in last week's post? It's Dr. Kate Birney in the bottom left corner.
Do you have a picture or story you would like to share? We'd love to hear it! You can post a comment or email us via the website. Check back soon for more information on how you will be able to help us remember and relive more than 30 years of excavation at Ashkelon.
2015 Offseason Week 1
With the end of the 2015 field season behind us, it's official; only one season of excavation remains for the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon. One season to investigate the ancient city, to eat out at the marina, and to walk past the still standing but shuttered Dan Gardens hotel, our home away from home for more than 25 years.
There is a great deal to remember and a great deal to look forward to, all of which will be the subject of weekly posts throughout the offseason. More than a thousand volunteers have helped uncover the history and archaeology of Ashkelon. It's likely every one of them has a story to tell. Do you have a story or picture(s) to share? Send them along. The more, the better.
Help us celebrate Ashkelon as we gear up for our final season.
See any familiar faces? One of four pictured above is currently on staff.
Check back next week for more about the first season of excavation in 1985.
2015 Postseason Day 5
Our final guest post comes from Ruby-Anne.
Ruby-Anne and field trip locations
To write about an experience to an audience that does not know you is a daunting task. To try and convey an incredible experience while still trying to capture a bit of “youness” is even more so. Despite this, I still feel privileged to share some of this incredible experience with you.
My name is Ruby-Anne Birin. I am born, raised and educated in South Africa and am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. I came across the excavation while on a ‘Google binge’ while procrastinating on some assignment or chore. After some more research on the program I took the leap and applied. Thankfully I was accepted.
The past six weeks have not only immersed me in groundbreaking fieldwork, it has also given me the opportunity to learn from some true specialists of their craft. Archaeology is not a one dimensional science, it takes a toll on you physically, mentally and emotionally. While challenging, the moment you find something or grasp a concept that may better help contribute to our knowledge of the past it makes up for every blister and exhausted collapse into bed.
Field trips become a way to see the world outside the insular community that forms in Ashkelon. They show you the interconnectedness of the site and draws Ashkelon’s long history into context of the region. From the heat at Masada, ancient water systems in Jerusalem to exploring caves in Beit Guvrin, each site adds excitement and knowledge to this incredible experience.
I am grateful to the staff and volunteers who have made this experience what it is, thank you!
Ruby-Anne in the Leonardo Hotel
2015 Postseason Day 4
We hear from Tori today.
Tori excavating Grid 51
Hi! My name is Tori Campbell. I am a rising senior at Yale University (only Yalie on the dig!), an English major who came here largely out of a sense of adventure. I’ve always wanted to work on a dig, and when the opportunity came up for me to spend a summer working at Ashkelon, I jumped at the chance!
I work on Grid 51, which has focused on excavating the 604 B.C. destruction of Philistine Ashkelon at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. Grid 51’s extensive size and clear temporal context make it a perfect place for a completely new archaeology student to gain her footing. I’ve learned to use a wide breadth of tools to help my team reach and excavate the contemporary surfaces, or “floors”, of the 604 destruction era.
My favorite tool is the large pick. I use it to remove layers of “floor”, to break up dirt from between the floors, and—my favorite—to take down walls made of stone or mudbrick so we can dig further, find more, and answer more questions.
Talking with a local Israeli student
2015 Postseason Day 3
Today's post comes from Jing.
Digging a pit
Hello, I am a rising sophomore from Harvard University. Participating in the Leon Levy Expedition at Ashkelon is one of the best experiences I've had. The amazing staff and volunteers have created a welcoming community, and I was able to learn many archaeological skills in the past few weeks. Archaeology is a comprehensive academic discipline, and the program exposed me to various aspects of archaeological fieldwork. From struggling to carry a guffa to freely wielding a pick, and from seeing no difference in soil to identifying stratigraphical changes, I have grown both intellectually and physically. Now I can say I truly love archaeology, and if I have a chance, I will definitely come back to Ashkelon!
Standing in a sewer
2015 Postseason
Our guest post today comes from Sarani.
Sarani excavates a posthole
Hello! My name is Sarani Jayawardena, and I am a junior at Harvard College. Many people have asked what brought me (I study Government) to an archaeology expedition in Israel – and many will ask why I enjoyed it so much:
I aspired to understand history from a perspective other than that of books – and I found this new appreciation, deep amongst the pot sherds, bone fragments, and flint blades that surrounded me.
I wanted to learn but not be stuck in a classroom– so my school was a trench near the ocean, and my lessons ranged from archaeological technique, to the history of the Southern Levant, to the art of pushing my mind and body beyond unthinkable limits.
I hoped to have an adventure, see a new part of the world, and meet interesting people – and in the past six weeks, I have had my adventures both in the grid and while travelling this intriguing region, with the fascinating and inspiring friends I have made.
Good bye, Ashkelon, and thank you for the memories!
Sarani fills a guffah with dirt
2015 Postseason Day 1
Today's guest post comes from Taylor.
Collecting a flotation sample
As a student at Troy University, I enrolled in the Harvard Field School and
Education Program for Ashkelon Excavations due to my interest in Near
Eastern Archaeology. My experience has been beyond comparison
as I've fully participated in all site activities alongside fellow volunteers and
professional archaeological staff. In Grid 25, our overarching goal pertained to
determining the occupational sequence in the area. Correspondingly, we
endeavored to establish a correlation between the occupational sequence
and the Roman Cardo. Our excavation of Grid 25 was abandoned prematurely
when we exposed bedrock beneath early Islamic architecture (9th-10th
century Abassid) Our team then relocated 20 meters south of the Odeon to
Grid 47. Our objective in Grid 47 was to establish the orientation of the Roman
urban core of the city. Investigation of the expansion of the city during the
Roman Period suggests that the exposed architecture in Grid 47 is closely
aligned to the Persian-Hellenistic Period as can be seen on the South Tell.
This contrasts the shift in orientation demonstrated in the Odeon. I look
forward to preparing for advanced studies in archaeology, knowing that I've
had the most extensive field experience and access to qualified professors
and archaeologists who've guided me as we've attended to our research
goals.
Cleaning in preparation for excavation in Grid 47
2015 Field Season Day 41
It's the last day! The first shuttle taking volunteers to the airport leaves in 10 minutes. What a remarkable season. You've heard a lot about it from the expedition. Over the next few days, you'll learn more about the season from the perspectives of the Harvard Summer School students. We'll be posting their "special edition" blog posts in the coming week.
As promised, today was a day of sweeping ahead of final photos (end of season record shots), conservation (preparing the excavation areas to make it through the winter), and work in the compound. Lots and lots of work in the pottery compound. Unsurprisingly, pottery processing featured prominently.
Pottery waiting to be sorted, read and inventoried.
Before we had to make it through the last day, however, the expedition enjoyed a night of "all you can eat" ice cream at a local ice cream shop. A big thank you to Adam Aja for the idea because, as it turns out, everyone loves ice cream.
Dan, Emily and Deirdre in line waiting to select their desserts
Who wouldn't love a waffle with ice cream on top?
The Aja family enjoys ice cream AND a waffle
On behalf of the entire staff of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon I would like to thank all our volunteers for a wonderful, exciting and productive season. It is hard to imagine a season topping this one.
2015 Field Season Day 40
Final, final party tonight. It will be an evening of skits, music and fun followed by "all you can eat" at a local ice cream shop. All together now, "Best final party ever!"
We were all in the pottery compound today. As a result, we made a lot of progress on inventory and a host of end-of-season projects.
Pottery compound
Short post today as we turn our thoughts to preparing a skit for the evening. Tomorrow is final photos and then, hard to believe, the volunteers leave while the staff sticks around another week.
2015 Field Season Day 39
We are done digging. Tomorrow grids will be cleaning and then Friday, final photos will be taken. Volunteers are off Friday and Saturday. Next week it will be just the staff. We will continue working on a variety of projects in the compound. Sorting, cleaning, storing and describing are the activities of the day along with other types of fun.
Carrying the flot machine through the compound
2015 Field Season Day 38
It was a busy day across the site.
In Grid 51, they still have two rooms filled with destruction debris from 604 they are excavating. What makes that rather complicated is that 51 is a big grid and it needs to get cleaned for final photos on Friday. So, while they are still excavating, they have started cleaning as well.
Volunteers begin cleaning Grid 51
We backfilled Grid 47 today. There are several reasons why we backfill excavation areas when work is complete. The number one reason? Safety. We want both visitors to the park and the antiquities themselves to be safe and well protected. Of course, we want to let people know when we've excavated an area. We map everything and keep detailed records. When we close an area, we also put down a few modern objects. That way, if someone were to dig in the same area again, they would know it was already excavated once before.
Backfilling Grid 47
We managed to find time to dig a probe right in the middle of the basilica today. This was a cooperative venture with the Parks Authority and the Antiquities Authority. The goal was to locate and identify a wall previously excavated and identified as part of the basilica associated with the bouletuarion. Just about three and a half meters down, we found it. Not only that, we found something very familiar -- backfill from John Garstang's 1920s excavation of the building.
Rubble backfill from John Garstang's 1920s excavation of the Ashkelon basilica
It's been a few days, maybe longer even, since we had a picture of Grid 16. They are still in the field cleaning so check back for a picture or two soon. We have two more days in the field and then everyone is in the compound on Friday as we work to shut down the 2015 field season.
2015 Field Season Day 37
I'd like to take a moment to highlight the work of someone who contributes to the blog regularly -- Melissa, the dig photographer. Her job is a crazy busy one, especially at this point in the season. Not only does Melissa take shots in the field but also she photographs objects out of the field. Her photographs will appear in the Islamic and Hellenistic volumes, currently under way, as well as many more.
Melissa also takes a lot of our "people shots," and it's thanks to her that we have some great photos from Grid 51 today.
Excavating in Grid 51
Weight plate being excavated in Grid 51
2015 Field Season Day 36
As the end of the season approaches, everyone's schedule gets busier and busier. We will try to have pictures of Grid 51 and Grid 16 tomorrow. If not then, certainly within the next couple of days.
We finished excavation in Grid 47 today. We will clean tomorrow and then photograph and backfill on Tuesday. With this excavation, we gained a lot of useful information on the occupational sequence of the city in this area.
We also hosted some guides for the National Parks Authority in Grid 47. They spent an hour digging with us, learning about what we do, and how excavation contributes to the history of Ashkelon. After digging, they went on a walking tour of the site.
Grid 47 volunteers working with Park Guides