Ein Gedi is an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, more than 400 m. below sea level. Fresh water springs flow there and have made permanent settlement that lived on irrigation agriculture. It is the only Jewish settlement from the 6th century that has been excavated on the shore of the Dead Sea.

Last January we united Hirschfeld excavated part of the village with the ancient synagogue neighboring Houses. Therefore, in February 2017 we intend to complete Hirschfeld excavations on the northern side of the village where there was then, a metal pipe.

The First 2 weeks in Ein Gedi Field School, the last 2 weeks in Ein Gedi youth hostel, 4 people per room. Accommodation can also be arranged at the Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel - www.booking.com/Ein-Gedi-Kibbutz-Hotel
Telephone no: 972-8-6594222; Fax no.: 972-8-6584328. The Kibbutz hotel is some distance from the excavation site and from the youth hostel. Transport is not provided.

Rooms must be vacated early Friday morning. Volunteers wishing to remain at the Field Scholl or Youth Hostel for the weekend have to make arrangements directly at the Youth Hostel reception desk. Those wishing to set up their own tent will participate in the cost of meals. 

Room per day: a single volunteer in a room $70, two volunteers in a room $45 each, 

For more information and application form see our website

The Central Timna Valley (CTV) Project is a multi-year project of the Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University, focusing on copper production sites in the southern Aravah Valley at the transitional period between the Late Bronze and Iron Ages (1300-800 BCE).

The excavations are aimed at addressing social, technological and chronological aspects of the ancient copper production industry. Students and volunteers will excavate in two sites: the extensive 10th century BCE smelting site of the "Slaves Hill" (Timna 34), and an Egyptian miners' camp.

The hilltop village of Shikhin is located a short walk from Sepphoris, the largest city of Hellensitic Galilee. Referred to as Asochis by the historian Josephus, Shikhin was a wealthy Hellenistic production center closely tied to its larger neighbor.

Excavations since 2012 have revealed that the kilns at Shikhin were producing most known Galilean pottery forms, including oil lamps, and they were doing so at a volume that suggests they produced a surplus for trading. Also uncovered were the remains of Shikhin's previously unknown synagogue.

February 1 2017, rolling admission.

Special UNC Charlotte Study Abroad program that runs the first two week session of the dig (June 9-25). Students receive 3 hours credit. Price includes tuition, housing, partial meals, and three days of guided touring with Dr. James Tabor around the country. For more information and application see website.

TBA

ECTS credits can be arranged with the Universities of Bern, Helsinki and Leiden. For more information and application see website.

Abel Beth Maacah is a major tell in the Upper Galilee, at the northern end of the Huleh Valley, just west of Dan, and at the ancient juncture of Aram, Israel and Phoenicia. The site contains remains from the third through first millennia BCE, as well as from the Classical and Medieval periods.

June 25 - July 21

The basic cost for a room with kitchenette, toilet and shower that accommodates 3-4 people is $520 per week (7 nights) for full room and board for the first three weeks and $370 for the fourth week (5 nights).

The weekly cost includes transportation by air conditioned bus to and from the tell each working day and the evening lectures. All other transportation arrangements and costs must be made by the individual team member.

Double rooms (for two people) (limited availability): $210 per night ($1470 per 7-night week; $1050 for the final 5-night week).

Returning team members are entitled to a discount: the cost will be $470 per week for the first three weeks and $330 for the final, fourth week.

Students may arrange to receive academic credits through the Rothberg International School of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem​. The cost is US$80 for the registration fee and US$120 per academic credit paid directly to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Participants will receive 4 credits for participating during the entire season. Students opting to receive academic credits must fulfill the requirements set by the field school directors (attending all field trips and lectures, tasks in the field and writing of an academic paper relating to the project).

Official website

Dr. Steven M. Ortiz, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Texas
Dr. Sam Wolff, Israel Antiquities Authority

Steve Ortiz sortiz@swbts.edu and Sam Wolff sam@israntique.org.il

The site of Tell es-Safi/Gath is located in the Shephelah region (the Judean foothills), approximately half way between Jerusalem and Ashkelon. One of the largest archaeological sites in Israel, it is identified as Canaanite and Philistine Gath, Medieval Blanche Garde, and modern Tell es-Safi. During biblical times this was one of the five major cities of the Philistines, the home of Goliath and Achish according to the biblical text. As of 1996, a team of archaeologists, led by Prof. Aren M. Maeir of Bar-Ilan University initiated a long-term project at the site. Excavations have uncovered impressive remains, including the worlds earliest known siege system, rich finds from the Bronze and Iron Age periods, Philistine temples, inscriptions and art, and evidence of the destruction of the city of Gath by Hazael, king of Aram Damascus, as mentioned in II Kings 12.

In the upcoming 2017 season, we plan to continue to excavate levels dating to these various
phases, with particular emphasis on the Early and Late Bronze Ages, and various stages of the
Iron Age, both in the upper and lower city. We will be excavating in several areas of the tell,
and we expect to have a wide range of fascinating, and in fact, groundbreaking finds.

Khirbet el-Eika is situated on a high isolated mountain overlooking the Arbel Valley and the ancient route that led from the sea of Galilee (7 km) to central Galilee and from there to the Mediterranean coast (40 km).

The location of the site and its topographic and fortified nature may indicate the site had some administrative role of controlling the surrounding agricultural production. A dramatic destruction (ca. mid-2nd c. BCE) apparently brought about the end of its settlement, and the rich assemblages of artif acts found in the destruction layer provide an unparalleled window into the material culture of Hellenistic Galilee.

July 2 - July 27

$420-$550 per work week depending on room standard and duration of participation. A work week is from Sunday night through Friday afternoon. Prices include full room and board, participation in the excavations, field trips and lectures.

Contact: Roi Sabar, Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt Scopus, Jerusalem 91905, Israel.
Tel: +972 528282963
Email: roisabar@gmail.com

See website

The ancient city of Hippos, one of the Decapolis, was erected upon the plateau of Sussita Mountain overlooking the Sea of Galilee which stretches west of it. The Hippos dig is one of the main Classical Period excavations being conducted during last decade in Israel.

During the upcoming season we plan on excavating the following areas:
• The Roman-Byzantine Bathhouse
• Roman Fortifcations
• The Decumanus Maximus

Cost for 2 weeks including Room and Board: €1,100/$1,220 (may be paid in your own currency). Full payment by 31 May.

(10% discount on the total sum for those registering and paying the registration fee or full participation fee until the 31st of January 2017.)

› Tuition Fee for 2 Credits: $200