Welcome to:
The
Northern ‘Sea Peoples’ Excavation Project
El-Ahwat, tel assawir and site 146
(Mount Carmel)
Information and Application for the 2002 Season:
This project,
run and directed by Haifa University and with the cooperation of the University
of Cagliari, Sardinia, is aimed to explore the archaeology and the history of
the 'Northern (non-Philistine) Sea Peoples’ - Shardana and Sikulu. These tribes
are known for been settled in the northern coast of Canaan in the 12th
century BCE, but their settlements were unknown so far, except Tell Dor. In
1992 a new site was discovered, which have changed our view and opened new
horizons in the subject (and see below).
From summer 2002 and for the four
consecutive years we intend to extend the dig into three sites: el-Ahwat, Tel
Assawir and Mount Carmel site 146.
El-Ahwat is a surprising discovery in the Biblical Archeology of Israel. The excavations at the place (el-Ahwat, in Arabic - 'the
walls'), a fortified site located in central Israel and dated to the early Iron
Age, exposed architecture influenced by the western Mediterranean 'Nuraghic'
style. The site was discovered in November 1992, during the survey of
the hill country of Manasseh. The large city, hitherto unknown, is located on a
high hill overlooking the Samarian mountains, the Carmel range, the
Mediterranean coast and the Nahal ‘Iron (Wadi ‘Ara) historical road. Founded in
the Iron Age I (end of the 13th
century BCE), it lived only about 50 years and then abandoned, never to be
settled again. The architecture found presumably connects the site with the
buildings of Sardinia in the western Mediterranean. There, corridors and
‘tholoi’ typified the Nuragic culture of Bronze and Iron Ages in the island;
and similar constructions were unearthed in our site. Historically, it
connected the place with the Shardana, one of the well-known ‘Sea peoples’
tribes. The Shardnan were famous warriors and mercenaries. Originated at
Sardinia, they said to be settled in Canaan together with the Philistines by
pharaoh Ramesses 3rd following his victory over the ‘Sea-peoples’
(ca. 1180 BCE).
El- Ahwat - Air picture
Tel Assawir :
Being a new excavation (the tell has never
been excavated before), Assawir is your opportunity to become involved
with a dig at the very beginning. Located 8 miles east of Caesarea, Tel Assawir
is situated on the entrance to the important Wadi ‘Ara pass. The tell was
suggested by Albright (1923) to be a contact point
between the coast controlled by the 'northern Sea-Peoples' and the Israelites
wgo settled in the hill country.
A preliminary
survey recovered figurines, seals, pottery and stone objects. These objects are
strong indications of Tel Assawir’s archaeological promise. Our main goals for
the first season are to establish the site’s chronology and to find its
fortification system.
Volunteers
are invited to participate, no previous experience is required.
Dig into These Items:
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Excavation reports |
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At 2002 season we will dig for the second
season at
Information and Application for the 2002 Season.
Conditions of acceptance:
Age: from 16 up; good health (in certain cases a medical certificate may be demanded); no prior archaeological experience is required.
Dates: Sunday, July 7th to Friday,
August 2nd (four weeks).
Minimum stay: One full week
(Sunday-Thursday). It may be possible to extend your stay, depending on
available space.
Accommodation:
Lodging will be at Kibbutz Barkai, about 2
miles from the dig site. Rooms, which are well equipped, will house 3-4 people
per room. There is a bathroom and kitchen in each floor.
Meals are served in the dining room except
for breakfasts that are at the site.
It may be possible to stay at the Kibbutz on
weekends for an extra 35$ per day. Assistance will be available for those
interested in sightseeing in Israel.
How to get there:
We will meet all of you every Sunday morning
at 10:00 Is at Hadera central bus station. You can get there by Bus no' 540
from Jerusalem/ Ben-Gurion airport; bus no' 921 from Tel Aviv and 921 from
Haifa.
For those how can't be at Hadera in time,
there is a bus to Kibbutz Barkai no' ..., every hour from Hadera central bus
station.
Mailing Address:
Your address in Israel is:
(Your name) ℅ Adam Zertal
Archaeological Expedition
Kibbutz Ein-Shemer 37848
ISRAEL
Mail to and from Israel
takes about 3-10 days.
A public phone is available
to make and receive calls: 972-6-
You can get e-mails at:
amitrom@012.net.il
Program:
Working days are Sunday to Thursday, from
6:00 am to 13:30 PM. On Sundays work is from 12:00 noon to 18:30 PM.
On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday will be
additional archaeological assignment in the afternoon. Some evenings there will
be lectures given. On Tuesdays, there will be a guided bus tour to other
archaeology site in the area, such as Caesarea, Megiddo, and Tel Dor.
Daily Schedule:
- 5:00 -- Wake up and morning coffee.
- 5:40 -- Bus leaves for site.
- 6:00 -- Work begins.
- 8:30 -- Breakfast under the tree at the site.
- 11:30 -- Watermelon break at the site.
- 13:30 -- End of working day.
- 14:00 -- lunch in the dining room.
- 14:30 – Siesta.
- 17:00 -- Coffee/tea; washing and reading pottery.
(Tuesday 16:00 -- a tour.
Afterwards a free evening in Hadera)
- 19:00 -- Supper in the dining room
- 20:00 -- lecture or social activity
Personal Needs:
Bed sheets, a pillow and blankets are
provided.
Work clothes for the field. Long sleeve and
pant to protect from the sun are recommended. A hat and high boots are
essential! We will provide work gloves.
Casual clothing to be wears in after work
hours and weekends. Free laundry service will be available once each week.
Sweaters are recommended for early mornings
and cool nights; sunglasses. Bring sunglasses, sun cream, bathing suit; towels,
toiletries, personal medication.
Prices:
Basic fee is $250 per workweek (Sunday -
Thursday). Previous dig participants will receive a 5% discount. It is possible
to stay at the Kibbutz on weekends for an extra 35$ per day (70$ per full
weekend). Prices include full accommodation, Once-a-week laundry; bedding,
transportation to and from the site; full participation in all activities of
the dig and dig tours. Prices do not include transfer from airport and back,
health and other insurance, medical care, clothes, boots etc. Guided tours to
different parts of Israel are to be organized in weekends, limited to minimum number
of participates. The price for each weekend tour is 25$ (due to changes). Meals
and entry fee to sites and museums are not included. The tours will be guided
by professional tour guide .
All payments, in checks (no travelers
checks),should be send in advance for the full stay, made out for "the
survey of Manasshe" to: Amit Romano, Department of Archeology, Haifa
University Mt. Carmel 3l905 Israel. No refunds will be given for shortening
stays. No refunds can be given for cancellation after June 22nd. Prior to this
date, full refunds will be given.
Click here for a printable
application form.
Fill in the required information form and send the guarantee check to the
following address:
Prof. Adam Zertal\ Amit Romano
Department of Archaeology
Haifa University
Mt. Carmel 3l905
Israel
For more information you can
contact:
Amit Romano- Tel. 972-9-8910275
Dpt. of Archaeology- Tel. (07:30 AM -- 14:00
PM.): 972-4-8240234
Prof. A. Zertal Home - Tel. 972-6-6374240
Fax. 972-4-8248128 (for Prof. Zertal)
Amit Romano -E-mail – amitrom@012.net.il