[RBS] Join an archaeological dig in the middle of RBS!

[Fried]

Anyone like to volunteer on an archaeological dig for half a day, a day, or
more?

In the middle of Ramat Beit Shemesh - at the intersection of Nachal Luz and
Nachal Refaim - the Israel Antiquities Authority is conducting a salvage dig
for the next three weeks.  On a small hill to be developed imminently (in
part for a public garden, in part for a pedestrian thru-way between two
streets, in part for public building?), the AA has uncovered – apropos
Chanukah – the remains of a relatively large Chashmonian village.  With all
the building on all the hills of RBS aleph, bet and the beginning of gimel,
it is the only Chashmonian village discovered in Ramat Beit Shemesh, and
larger than the remains of a small village found just outside RBS.  The site
also has some Herodian remains and even a First Temple period house.  So
far, there are two public mikvaot (a third was already destroyed), a two
wine presses, and lots of relics.  The site was not inhabited after the
destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.

The archaeologist responsible for the dig at the site, Elena Kogan-Zahavi,
invites volunteers to help them uncover as much as possible in the short
time they’ve been given to conduct the dig.  A "salvage" dig is done when
development of a site is going to forever hide or even destroy
archaeological remains, in an effort to find and learn as much possible -
and, if possible, to preserve the remains for us and for posterity.  The IAA
hopes that the more extensive the finds, the greater the likelihood that the
Misrad Hashikun and the local authorities who are responsible for the
development planned for the site, will not simply cover over the remains and
make a “nice park with trees”, but will make a nice archaeological park with
trees.  It will take a decision to allocate additional funds for development
– to properly preserve the remains and make them accessible – which may call
for some pretty serious lobbying by our community.

A Chashmonian village was preserved in Modiin, which local schools visit for
educational purposes, especially on and around Chanukah.  We can preserve
the Chashmonian village right in the middle of our neighborhood too!

Individual volunteers may come to join the existing crews of diggers (some
of whom are paid workers), but the archeologists on site would prefer that
volunteers come in their own groups of 3 or 4 to have their own place to
dig, receive additional guidance and explanation, and be able to work at
their own pace and at their own hours.  The dig is Sunday-Thursday, from
6:30am to 2:15pm, but a group of volunteers would be welcome to come from
9am to 1pm, for example.

They have erected several large “hothouse”-type tents on the site so that
they can dig in inclement weather, but much digging is to be done in the
areas outside the tents as well.   If everyone has to dig “inside” because
of rain, it becomes quite crowded and hot.  Best to look at the long range
weather forecast and plan to come on a dry day.

It looks like it’s not supposed to rain this coming week (except possibly
Tuesday afternoon).

Volunteers have to fill out an AA volunteer questionnaire and submit it
beforehand by fax.  You can download the Hebrew version here
http://www.antiquities.org.il/images/volunteer_questionnarie_heb.pdf, or the
English version here
http://www.antiquities.org.il/images/volunteer_questionnarie.pdf.  (The
English version is meant primarily for tourists – if you’re a citizen, you
have the requisite medical insurance already through Bituach Leumi/kupat
cholim.)

Anyone who works with students might want to organize more than a small
group. Volunteers on this dig must be at least 16-years-old.

To make arrangements to participate, contact Meyrav Shay at the IAA at
620-4672 or 052-428-4366.  She will then put you in touch with the
archaeologist at the site.

Anyone who has contacts with the Misrad Hashikun or with the mayor and city
council might want to begin a grass roots effort to have the remains
preserved as part of the park.

It's exciting to think that we are living in the same place as our
Chashmonai forbearers.  Let's help to uncover and preserve their heritage
and ours.

Chanukah sameach,
Yissachar

p.s. This important site is described on the IAA website.  There is a brief
description of a preliminary dig at the site - called Khirbet Qikh - in
2005.  See http://www.antiquities.org.il/Dig_Item_eng.asp?id=386.