Tuesday, August 25, 2009

1190 - Hippos-Sussita, Ramat Rahel, and the Mistress of the Lionesses


Some of the results of the 2009 excavation season are reported in this week's program, as well as a 2008 discovery we haven't had a chance to discuss yet. And, it just so happens, we were able to visit the excavation sites of Hippos-Sussita and Ramat Rahel for the first time during our 25th Anniversary Book & The Spade Study Tour a year and a half ago. (Pictured, the Hippos-Sussita Forum)

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

1188-1189 Luke Chandler: Volunteer at Khirbet Qeiyafa



Since we started doing this weekly program 26 and a half years ago, we have continually encouraged our listeners to get involved and do archaeology themselves. On occasion we have talked with some who have actually volunteered, and that's what these two programs are about. Luke Chandler has a blog where he's written about his excavation experience this past summer at Khirbet Qeiyafa, otherwise known as the Elah Fortress. And since that's probably where I would have gone had I chosen to work on an excavation this summer, clearly one of the most important digs now underway, I decided I'd like to talk with him about his experiences. So, listen to the programs, read the blogs, and experience what digging was like at Khirbet Qeiyafa during the summer of 2009.

Uncovering history can be a very transcendant experience. Describing what it was like to open up the second city gate of Khirbet Qeiyafa (most cities had only one gate), Luke told me: "After moving a lot of the stones and making it somewhat passable, I went inside to get a break with my co-worker. And it occurred to me as we were going through the gate, that we were the first two people to pass through that gate in well over 2,000 years."

For another perspective on archaeology and volunteerism, check out the Jerusalem Post article on the Ramat Rachel excavation.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

1187 - Eric Cline: Tel Kabri, Archaeology and Social Media


Eric Cline filled us in on his excavations at Tel Kabri last year (he also digs at Megiddo on alternate years). The dig at Kabri wrapped up just a few days ago and we checked in with Eric to see how it went. Tel Kabri is one of the sites where it was possible to follow what was going on through social media, specifically through the excavation's weblog. Hundreds of photographs of the excavators at work, posted on Facebook, can be accessed through the weblog site. It gives a pretty realistic portrayal of what it's like to be a volunteer on an excavation. We also spent some time talking about social media, such as Facebook, Weblogs and Twitter, speculating on what impact they may have on archaeology. These unique communications tools are just starting to be used by archaeologists (professionals and volunteers).